Our community is experiencing a blood shortage and we need your help

There’s a serious blood shortage right now in southwestern Pennsylvania, as well as across the country. This is a critical issue because many hospital patients rely on the generosity of blood donors. These patients might include someone in your family, a neighbor or coworker; anyone undergoing surgery, suffering trauma or vehicle accidents, premature babies, and those fighting cancer. These are just some examples of people who may require blood transfusions to survive. By giving blood, you can play a direct role in saving their lives.

If you have never given blood, please consider becoming a first-time blood donor. If it’s been a while, please come back.

As we cautiously emerge from the pandemic, we’re returning to activities that were on hold. Hospital patients are counting on you to make blood donation one of those activities.

Ready to save a life? Click here or call 877-25-VITAL

Not familiar with Vitalant? This non-profit blood services organization, formerly known as Central Blood Bank, is the exclusive blood provider to AHN and UPMC hospitals, as well as nearly every independent hospital in the greater Pittsburgh area. That means when you donate blood though through Vitalant, your blood most likely helps a hospital patient right here in our community.

These hospitals require about 600 blood donations every day to provide care to their patients. But our community is donating only about half the blood needed. As such, Vitalant needs to import blood from outside our area. To compound this, the number of people donating blood in southwestern Pennsylvania has shrunk by 60% in the past 14 years.

Please donate blood and help reverse that decline!

Vitalant makes it as convenient as possible to donate blood – offering 10 comfortable Blood Donation Centers throughout the area, as well as several community blood drives daily.

Make blood donations a part of your routine. Please schedule your appointment to give blood. Or call 877-25-VITAL

Every whole blood donation can help two or more patients. That means your one blood donation may save many lives.

Never donated before? This short video explains how simple the process is.

Many people believe that most blood is needed after major disasters. While it is a fact that blood is needed in emergencies, thousands of people experience personal emergencies that require a constant and ready blood supply. It is the blood that is already at the hospital that saves lives.

You may be wondering if you can donate blood. Donating blood is safe and easy to do. If you’re in good health and meet the following general criteria, then you are likely able to give blood.

• Must be at least 16 years old (16-year-olds must bring a signed permission form from a parent or guardian, if required by state or school).

• Weigh at least 110 pounds.

• Be in good general health.

If you are healthy and eligible, we urge you to give blood through Vitalant in the days and weeks ahead.

Please make your appointment to help the critical need for blood, and experience firsthand how amazing it feels to save someone’s life.