Vitalant Blood Donations

Vitalant Calls for Blood Donations During September, National Preparedness Month

September 1 – 7 Blood Donors Thanked with Exclusive Vitalant T-shirt for Giving Around Labor Day
Southern Arizona September Blood Donation Locations Announced; Visit vitalant.org for an Appointment

Statewide, Ariz. – As back-to-school and work routines resume, blood and platelet donations have slowed, but the need remains strong. Vitalant is urging all eligible donors to make a blood or platelet donation appointment during National Preparedness Month in September to prevent a serious shortage and ensure blood is readily available for disasters large and small, including the everyday needs patients face. As a special thanks for donating around the Labor Day weekend, all Sept. 1 – 7 will receive an exclusive Vitalant T-shirt redeemable by email. To learn more and make an appointment to donate, please visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Casa Grande, Coolidge, Eloy, Maricopa, Oro Valley, Somerton and Tucson locations detailed below.

Urgent need for donors of all types . . . All blood types are needed, especially type O, the most transfused blood type. O-negative is what emergency room personnel reach for when there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type. Platelet donations are critically needed. Platelets help blood clot and more than 50% of platelet donations are used by cancer patients.

Governor Ducey has proclaimed September 1 – 7 as Arizona Blood Donation Week to encourage Arizonans to give blood, especially around the Labor Day holiday when donations typically drop by more than 25%.

September is also National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Blood donors save the lives of people like Arizona twins Joshua and Jordan, who were born with the most severe form of Sickle Cell Disease, a genetic disorder that causes deformed red blood cells. The twins relied on donors to provide more than 150 blood transfusions until they were able to recently receive bone marrow transplants. “Blood donors saved my sons’ lives over and over,” said their mom, Kristine. Sickle Cell affects about 100,000 people in the U.S.

First-time donors with Vitalant can now get a glimpse at their blood type immediately when they donate. Lab confirmation of blood type and other useful health information is available about a week after donation in the donor’s online account. There is no waiting period to donate after being vaccinated for COVID-19 or the seasonal flu shot. To support a safe environment and most efficiently follow the latest CDC guidance, masks are required for all donors, staff, volunteers and guests at Vitalant blood drives and facilities regardless of vaccination status.

Vitalant Blood Donation Appointments: www.vitalant.org or 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825)

Public Blood Drives by City

Casa Grande
Fri, Sept 3, 10am-2pm, City of Casa Grande Emp Wellness Comm, 449 N Drylake St
Fri, Sept 17, 10am-2pm, Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, 449 N Drylake St
Tue, Sept 21, 9am-1pm, Vista Grande High School, 1556 N Arizola Rd
Wed, Sept 22, 9am-2pm, Mission Heights Preparatory High School, 1376 E Cottonwood Ln
Coolidge
Thu, Sept 30, 12pm-4pm, Central Arizona College Coolidge Campus, 8470 N Overfield Rd
Eloy
Wed, Sept 22, 8am-12pm, Empire Southwest, 3501 W Houser Rd
Maricopa
Wed, Sept 15, 1pm-5pm, Maricopa Wells Middle School, 45725 W Honeycutt Ave
Mon, Sept 27, 9am-1pm, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 Maricopa Rd
Oro Valley
Thu, Sept 23, 9am-1pm, Fry’s, 10450 N La Cañada Dr
Somerton
Mon, Sept 13, 10am-2pm, Somerton Police Department, 445 E Main St
Tue, Sept 14, 1pm-5pm, Somerton Police Department, 445 E Main St
Tucson
Wed, Sept 8, 8am-12pm, Empire High School, 10701 E Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Sun, Sept 19, 8am-1pm, St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 8650 N Shannon Rd

About Vitalant
Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect about 5,300 blood, platelet and plasma donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow us on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.