Community Urged to Donate Blood Ahead of Hurricane Helene Landfall

PIEDMONT, SC (Sept. 25, 2024) – As many are stocking their shelves with hurricane essentials like water and non-perishables, The Blood Connection (TBC), your community blood center, urges the community to do the same for local hospitals by donating blood or platelets before and after Hurricane Helene to ensure scheduled surgeries and emergency operations can still happen for patients who need care so they can more quickly begin their journey towards healing.

“Without local donors, surgeries may be postponed for the aunt scheduled for a hip replacement, blood may not be readily available for the daily transfusion needs of a sickle cell patient, and all the while patients will enter local hospitals from a car wreck needing a transfusion to have another chance at life,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of the Blood Connection. “The Blood Connection is working diligently to make sure no hospital, ambulance service, or air transport service we support across the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia face any disruption to their surgeries and care for their local communities. We need blood for the everyday needs of our health partners, and it takes brave local donors to keep blood products on the shelves for their community.”

As Helene makes landfall, it will bring high winds and heavy rain that will disrupt The Blood Connection’s collection of blood products as bloodmobiles cannot safely be operated in high winds. TBC continues to monitor Helene’s progression and is adapting to ensure blood collection despite known blood drive cancelations at high schools where students will remain at home due to inclement weather or due to the grounding of bloodmobiles for employee safety, while working hard to ensure hospital operations don’t stop. Local hospitals are stocking up ahead of the expected impacts of Helene, which makes it essential that the blood supply goes uninterrupted.

Those willing to answer the call and donate blood or platelets may do so at one of TBC’s 17 donation centers or one of their 50+ bloodmobiles as it is safe in their community. Find your nearest location to donate at thebloodconnection.org/donate.

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ROANOKE, VA (November 15, 2023) – Carilion Clinic, a not-for-profit integrated health system
headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, has partnered with The Blood Connection (TBC) for its blood
product needs. This agreement is effective Dec. 31, 2023. TBC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community
blood center and the primary blood provider for more than 120 hospitals in Virginia, South Carolina,
North Carolina, and Georgia.

TBC plans to open donation centers locally and will serve our community though hosting mobile blood
drives. Expanding into the Roanoke community will allow TBC to increase donor collection
opportunities. With this partnership, blood donors can feel confident knowing their donations are helping
our community and neighbors.

“Carilion is excited about our new blood services partnership with The Blood Connection,” said Carilion
President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Arner. “TBC is dedicated to supplying our local blood product needs
and being involved in the community. We encourage blood donors to support TBC’s future blood drives to help
them ensure our region has adequate blood to help us care for our patients.”

“We are honored to partner with Carilion Clinic to provide these lifesaving blood products to local
patients,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of TBC. “Local blood donors make the difference in
sustaining the community blood supply and preventing blood shortages. All blood products used by
patients at Carilion will be provided exclusively by TBC. We will immediately begin efforts to collect
blood products in the community and are seeking blood donors and organizations who are willing to
support this partnership and the local blood supply by sponsoring blood drives.”

Despite national blood shortages, TBC has continuously proven to be a reliable and dedicated partner for
local hospitals – committing itself to ensuring blood products are readily available through volunteer
blood donors. TBC adheres to the same high-quality standards as Carilion and is regulated by the FDA
and Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB).
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion while only three percent of the eligible
population donates. 4.5 million Americans will be impacted by a blood donation every year. Surgery
patients, accident victims, patients with cancer and newborn babies rely on the local blood supply.
Although TBC is responsible for keeping the blood supply stable, it cannot replicate blood; it must be
donated. TBC urges the community to donate blood to ensure that hospitals needs are uninterrupted. TBC
also encourages and welcomes local schools, businesses, churches, and organizations, to be part of the
connection as a blood drive host. To learn more about hosting a blood drive, please visit thebloodconnection.org/host.

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THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA (AUGUST 29, 2023) As we prepare for the impacts of Hurricane
Idalia, The Blood Connection (TBC) is joining preparedness efforts by sending blood products to hospital
partners in the storm’s path. TBC began preparing those blood products as early as Sunday as the orders
came in and as of today, the Governors of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have all declared a
state of emergency. TBC is responding quickly to get blood to hospital partners in these areas before the
impacts of the storm causes travel issues.

The storm is already affecting the local blood supply. Hospitals are stocking up ahead of Hurricane Idalia
and the community is urged to replenish the supply now, to ensure lifesaving blood products are available
when hospitals, or blood centers call. TBC is experiencing blood drive cancellations across its service
areas, as Hurricane Idalia is expected to bring high winds and heavy rain. The expected storm damage and
power outages could lead to a disruption of the local blood supply, as donation centers are not able to
operate, and many people are not able to travel to donate blood. During weather emergencies,
bloodmobiles cannot travel when winds are sustained at a certain speed and heavy rain could cause travel
issues for TBC staff and donors.

As a member of The Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC), TBC is currently on-call to send blood
units to partner blood centers, should this natural disaster or other emergencies require additional blood
products. “The Blood Connection is no stranger to helping our neighbors in need,” said Heather Moulder,
Director of Communications & Public Relations for The Blood Connection. “Though BERC has not yet
been activated we’re asking our community to share in the response effort and help before the storm hits.
We can’t help if we’re not prepared, and it’s the blood on the shelves that saves lives.”

TBC supplies blood to more than 120 hospital partners across the Carolinas and Georgia. TBC operates
15 donation centers and deploys more than 50 blood mobiles daily, to make blood donation comfortable
and convenient for those who answer the call.

To find a center or mobile donation opportunity nearby, go to thebloodconnection.org/donate.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (AUGUST 4, 2023) – The Blood Connection (TBC), an independently managed, non-profit community blood center is announcing an extended partnership to serve as the sole blood provider for Grand Strand Health. TBC, building upon its existing relationship with Grand Strand Health, was chosen to serve one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems because of its proven ability to provide a ready and stable blood supply for local hospital partners, even throughout the pandemic. TBC’s reliability and consistency helps to ensure a robust healthcare system for trauma victims and the many patients who rely on blood transfusions.

TBC has served as a non-profit 501(c)(3) community blood center for 60 years. The blood center was originally formed to be a blood provider for small hospitals in Georgia and South Carolina, before it eventually grew to become The Blood Connection. TBC began serving the Pee Dee region in 2020. It is now the primary blood provider for more than 120 hospitals in South Carolina, North Carolina, and parts of Georgia. TBC currently operates blood donation centers in Charleston, Florence, and Myrtle Beach, along with dozens of bloodmobile units. With this partnership, blood donors can feel confident knowing their donations are helping their community.

“The Blood Connection is proud to serve the Myrtle Beach area to ensure there are enough blood products for every patient in need,” said President & CEO of The Blood Connection, Delisa English. “Since there is no substitute for blood, we are reliant on community blood donors and are seeking organizations who are willing to support the local blood supply by sponsoring blood drives. Blood donations truly save lives.”

TBC has been the sole blood provider for Grand Strand Health since July 2020. “As Horry and Georgetown County’s only Level I Adult and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, our partnership with The Blood Connection is vital in providing lifesaving care for our community residents and visitors,” states Mark Sims, Chief Executive Officer of Grand Strand Health. “We are incredibly grateful to those individuals who donate blood products for our patients. Their support directly impacts the healthcare we provide.”

This announcement comes during a critical time for blood donations. Post-COVID, TBC has seen historically low donor turnout, which has impacted the local blood supply. Despite the local and national blood shortages, TBC has proven to be a reliable and dedicated partner for local hospitals – committing itself to ensuring blood products are readily available through volunteer blood donors. TBC adheres to the same high-quality standards as Grand Strand Health and is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration and American Association of Blood Banks.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion while only three percent of the eligible population donates. 4.5 million Americans will be impacted by a blood donation every year. Surgery patients, accident victims, patients with cancer and newborn babies all rely on the local blood supply. Although TBC is responsible for keeping the blood supply stable, it cannot replicate blood; it must be donated. TBC urges the community to donate blood to ensure that hospitals’ needs are uninterrupted. It’s neighbors like these who are impacted by blood donors.

For more photo and video resources, click here.

Donors can find convenient blood drives near them by going to thebloodconnection.org/donate.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (JULY 31, 2023) The Blood Connection (TBC), an independently managed, non-profit community blood center is announcing an extended partnership to serve as the sole blood provider for Trident Health, which includes Trident Medical Center, Summerville Medical Center, Live Oak Mental Health & Wellness, Brighton Park Emergency, Centre Pointe Emergency and Moncks Corner Medical Center.

TBC, building upon its existing relationship with Trident Health, was chosen to serve one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems because of its proven ability to provide a ready and stable blood supply for local hospital partners, even throughout the pandemic. TBC’s reliability and consistency helps to ensure a robust healthcare system for trauma victims and the many patients who rely on blood transfusions.

TBC has served as a non-profit 501(c)(3) community blood center for 60 years. The blood center was originally formed to be a blood provider for small hospitals in Georgia and South Carolina, before it eventually grew to become The Blood Connection. TBC began to serve the Lowcountry in 2019. It is now the primary blood provider for more than 120 hospitals in South Carolina, North Carolina, and parts of Georgia. TBC currently operates blood donation centers in Charleston and the coastal South Carolina region, along with dozens of bloodmobile units. With this partnership, blood donors can feel confident knowing their donations are helping their community.

“The Blood Connection is proud to serve the Charleston area to ensure there are enough blood products for every patient in need,” said President & CEO of the Blood Connection, Delisa English. “Since there is no substitute for blood, we are reliant on community blood donors and are seeking organizations who are willing to support the local blood supply by sponsoring blood drives. Blood donations truly save lives.”

  

Jane Appleby, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Trident Health, added, “This announcement comes during a critical time for blood donations. Post-COVID, The Blood Connection has seen historically low donor turnout, which has impacted the local blood supply. Despite the local and national blood shortages, The Blood Connection has proven to be a reliable and dedicated partner for local hospitals – committing itself to ensuring blood products are readily available through volunteer blood donors.” TBC adheres to the same high-quality standards as Trident Health and is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration and American Association of Blood Banks.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion while only three percent of the eligible population donates. 4.5 million Americans will be impacted by a blood donation every year. Surgery patients, accident victims, patients with cancer and newborn babies all rely on the local blood supply. Although TBC is responsible for keeping the blood supply stable, it cannot replicate blood; it must be donated. TBC urges the community to donate blood to ensure that hospitals’ needs are uninterrupted. It’s neighbors like these who are impacted by blood donors.

TBC and Trident Health are partnering to host a series of blood drives this year, giving community members the opportunity to ensure the blood supply is stable. Upcoming events are scheduled for:

August 3, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Brighton Park Emergency
1626 N. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483

September 26, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Moncks Corner Medical Center
401 N Live Oak Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461

September 28, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Centre Pointe Emergency
5249 Emmett I. Davis Jr. Ave. N, North Charleston, SC 29418

Register at thebloodconnection.org. Appointments are encouraged. Walk-ins are also welcome.