ERIE, PA — The recent shortage of type O and type A blood is worsening as local patients continue to use more blood than is being donated at local blood drives. This past weekend saw a tremendous usage of blood by people suffering serious injuries. This summer has been difficult right from the Memorial Day weekend start. Everyone is encouraged and give blood before situation turns critical.

Race On In with Lake Erie Speedway this week: Donors all week can enter to win VIP passes to a box & a ‘Ride and Drive’ experience that will have them driving on the track!

“It’s been non-stop with the usage,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “And there is no substitute for blood so we are urging everyone who can to give blood soon.”

The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach and is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.

ERIE, PA — The blood supply has been declining since before Memorial Day weekend, but recent heavy usage by several local patients, one with type A blood the other type O, has put us over the edge.  The Community Blood Bank is appealing to the public to come in and donate before the weekend to prevent the situation from turning critical.

Summer is the hardest time of the year for the blood supply; about 27% of all blood comes from students and now that school’s out, we’ll have fewer donors. Blood usage also rises as people travel, ride motorcycles, and participate in other outdoor activities where accidents happen.

The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach in Erie and is open Monday through Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturdays from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.

“We’ve been expecting a tough summer for the blood supply,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “We just hope enough people are generous enough to give up a half an hour to help save a life.”

‘KEEP LOCAL BLOOD LOCAL’ RALLY

10am Monday at the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh/Otters blood drive at the Tullio Arena 

ERIE, PA — The Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh is again holding a blood drive in Erie that will take hundreds of pints of blood out of the county. As the ONLY supplier of blood in Erie County for the past 4 decades the Community Blood Bank, which often struggles to meet the needs of local hospitals, is obligated to inform the public about the importance of giving blood locally.

The Community Blood Bank will be holding a ‘Keep Local Blood Local’ Rally from 10-11a.m. at the Tullio Arena parking lot in response to the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh’s 2-day blood drive with the local hockey team.  

Only 1 out of 33 adults donates, and there simply aren’t enough donors in Erie to provide for the local need and for Pittsburgh. The Community Blood Bank only draws blood from where it supplies and, until recently, that was also true of the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh which supplies from Pittsburgh up to Meadville.

Multiple blood banks competing for Erie donors creates confusion, adds to costs, and will affect the safety of the local blood supply. The current supply is 300 pints lower than a year ago at this time.

 “Please come out and show your support,” said Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “We are taking a stand on behalf of all patients in Erie County who will need blood.” 

 In Erie at 2646 Peach Street open Mon, – Fri 8 a.m.–6p.m.; And Sat 9a.m.-12:30p.m.

Recent snow adds to blood bank’s problems.

 ERIE, PA — The recent shortage of type O blood is worsening as local patients continue to need more blood than is being given.   The approaching weekend will add to the shortage if the situation is not dealt with quickly.  

 Only half the number of regular donors came in Wednesday and Thursday is fairly light as local donors dig out of the recent snow fall. Snow related accidents are also contributing to the heavier than normal usage.

 “Local patients are using a lot of blood,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “And there is no substitute for blood so we are urging everyone who can to give blood soon.”

 The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach and is open Monday -Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.

First 250 donors starting Wednesday get a pair of

tickets to the BayHawks home opener & a free t- shirt!

 ERIE, PA —The Community Blood Bank and the Erie BayHawks have teamed up to save lives this week. Starting Wednesday morning the first 250 donors that come to the Community Blood Bank at 26^th and Peach Street get a pair of tickets to the BayHawks Home Opener at the Tullio next Friday November 19^th  and a FREE ‘Saving Lives is a Slam Dunk’  T-shirt! Supplies are expected to last until Saturday morning.

 Food: The Fox and Hound is providing food for donors Wednesday from noon to 2pm.

 There will also be a raffle where 1 lucky donor will win courtside seats to an upcoming BayHawks game and other great BayHawks swag.

  “We are so excited to be working with the BayHawks to save lives locally,” Said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “Their season is just getting started so it’s a great way for fans to show support!”

Critical Blood Shortage Continues Unabated

  ERIE, PA — The critical blood shortage affecting the region continues unabated as continued heavy blood use by local patients in need have outpaced the number of donors coming in. The situation remains dangerous for anyone needing blood to stay alive. The blood bank at 26^th & Peach in Erie is open Monday through Friday 7:30am to 6pm. Saturdays 9-12:30pm.

 “This is bad,” says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing and Community Relations at the Community Blood Bank. “We haven’t seen any upward movement of the supply for almost a week.”

 All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street.  Community Blood Bank is open from 7:30a.m. 6p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9a.m.–12:30 p.m.  Photo ID required.

Blood usage over the holiday weekend was heavy but the real problem for the Community Blood Bank has been a lack of donors since Tuesday. They are encouraging everyone who can to donate blood before the weekend to end this dangerous situation. All blood types are low.

 Students under 23 years old make up over 27% of all blood donations but the school blood drives really don’t start for more than a week.

 “This is when it’s really bad for us,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “Waiting for things to pick up after the Labor Day holiday.”

 The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach and is open Friday 7:30am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.

Labor Day Weekend is traditionally one of the three worst weekends of the year (July 4^th is first and Memorial Day is second), and AAA is predicting a 10% increase in holiday travel. To get ready the Community Blood Bank with TGIFridays: the first 75 donors receive a card for a free appetizer  and one lucky donor Friday will win a round of golf for two plus a cart donated by Whispering Woods Golf Club. TGIFriday’s will also be providing food from 11-3pm.

 The late Labor Day holiday also pushes back the start up of High School and College blood drives. These drives normally end any leftover summer shortages quickly.

 “Labor Day is always tough for us,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “People enjoy the last bit of summer and usually delay giving blood.”

 All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street.  Community Blood Bank is open from 9a.m. 6p.m. Monday through Friday and until 7:30pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9a.m.–12:30 p.m.  Photo ID required.

Race On In and Give Blood (Part 3)

 First 25 donors Friday get a pair of tickets to

Lake Erie Speedway’s Coca Cola Races next Saturday

 ERIE, PA — Coca Cola Enterprise Bottling Company in Erie heard about our struggle to provide enough blood this last month of summer and they generously donated tickets to Coca Cola night at the Lake Erie Speedway next Saturday August 14^th.   The first 25 donors who come to 26^th and Peach St to give blood Friday get a pair of race tickets!  Doors are open from 7:30AM to 6PM.

 This is the third time tickets to Lake Erie Speedway have been donated to the Community Blood Bank this summer because donors really love them.

 There is still a moderate blood shortage locally and the Community Blood Bank will continue to struggle until after Labor Day. Everyone is encouraged to give.

  “We are so grateful to the Coca Cola for stepping up like this,” Said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “They have been supporting the blood bank like this for years.”

 New Summer Hours from May 3^rd through September 30^th: the Community Blood Bank will take donors from 7:30am to 6pm Monday through Friday and also on Saturdays from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed.

The Great Country Fair Gas Card Give Away is back at the Community Blood Bank. Country Fair has generously donated $3000 worth of gas cards to help ensure a safe blood supply locally. Starting Wednesday the first 200 donors each get a $10 gas card and two lucky donors this week will be chosen at random to win a $100 gas card. The other gas cards will be given away at mobile blood drives throughout the CBB’s 10 county service area.

 There is still a moderate summer blood shortage that is expected to linger until after Labor Day, this promotion will help save local lives by ensuring a safe blood supply.

 “We are so grateful for Country Fair’s generosity.” Said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the blood bank, “So drive on down, top off the blood supply and get a gas card from Country Fair to top off your tank!”

 All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street.  Community Blood Bank is open from 7:30a.m. to  6p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9a.m.–12:30 p.m.  Photo ID required. No appointment is needed to save a life.