Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank is Celebrating Blood Collectors Week

During September 17-23, the Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank (EVBB) will join other blood centers across the country in celebrating Blood Collectors Week, sponsored by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and Baxter Healthcare Corporation. This annual recognition week is designed to recognize and celebrate the critical role of blood collectors in ensuring blood is available to patients in need.

Blood Collection professionals serve an important role in educating donors and helping to ensure a safe and comfortable donation experience. In a whole blood donation, a pint (or 1/2 pint) of blood is collected and then divided into its therapeutic components for transfusion. Red blood cells represent the blood component currently in highest demand. According to the AABB, about 29 million units of blood components are transfused annually in the United States. These units are transfused to more than 4.5 million patients, including those with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and accident and trauma victims. Volunteer blood donors are the primary source of blood used for transfusions. At the EVBB, we ship about 25,000 blood components a year to veterinary hospitals across the country. Our blood bank is a 100% volunteer donor program. Blood is transfused into our canine companions for all the same reasons humans need blood.

On Monday, September 18st the EVBB will host an ice cream party to honor its blood collection staff. "Blood Donor owners and community members can show their support for this profession by joining our ice cream gathering on Monday," says EVBB Operations Manager, Erin Guthier.

Date: Monday, September 18, 2006
Time: 5:30p.m -7:30 p.m.
Location: EVBB Headquarters
844 Ritchie Highway, Suite 204
Severna Park, MD 21146