jacksonville Archives - Donate Blood

Eastern NC Town Resolves to Save More Lives in 2020

Dec 16, 2019 | Hospital, News

Eastern NC Town Resolves to Save More Lives in 2020

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – Onslow County Emergency Medical Services (OCEMS) is now partnering with the community non-profit blood center, The Blood Connection (TBC), to treat patients by introducing type O positive whole blood units into life-saving medical responses. OCEMS will be one of the first EMS units in the nation to utilize whole blood to treat major blood loss on the way to the hospital.

This program will ensure that lifesaving blood transfusions can begin before a patient arrives to their designated hospital – which can be the difference between life or death in a trauma response. Every year, over 60,000 people in the U.S. die due to the aftermath of hemorrhagic trauma. Research has shown that incorporating whole blood units into a first response before a patient’s arrival to the hospital can increase their chances of survival by about 70%.

“Having a dedicated EMS unit, like OCEMS, willing to incorporate our whole blood products into their day to day response is not only a huge step for TBC, but the communities in which we serve and live,” said Delisa K. English, President and CEO of TBC. “We are very excited to be a part of OCEMS’ program and are looking forward to meeting our first patients impacted by this program in Jacksonville.

The idea of using whole blood on the scene of a trauma dates back to World War I and II during combat. Since 1970, the standard practice has shifted to dividing and storing whole blood into plasma, platelets and red blood cells – known as component therapy – in order to conserve blood donations. Fast forward to today and evidence-based research is now showing that whole blood transfusions are effective and do improve mortality rates in on the scene trauma response.

OCEMS was motivated to start this initiative based on a similar program out of San Antonio, which was the first major city in the nation to start utilizing whole blood units on EMS vehicles.

The program, which will start mid-December, will be supported by blood donations from TBC donors. TBC is a local, non-profit community blood center dedicated to supplying area hospitals in the Carolinas and parts of Georgia with a variety of blood products. Currently, blood products collected from TBC community donors help supply 28 hospitals across the Triangle and Eastern NC.

A press conference will be held on December 16 at the Onslow County Public Safety Memorial in Jacksonville, NC at 10 a.m. OCEMS and TBC members will speak on behalf of the partnership and answer questions.

Two Independent Hospitals in Eastern North Carolina Choose New Blood Provider

Jun 3, 2019 | Hospital, News

Two Independent Hospitals in Eastern North Carolina Choose New Blood Provider

RALEIGH, N.C – The Blood Connection (TBC), based in Greenville, SC, is now the exclusive blood provider for Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, NC and Martin General in Williamston, NC. On June 1, 2019, TBC began serving both hospitals, expanding its reach in Onslow County and breaching into new territory in Martin County.

TBC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community blood center, licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. TBC has served the Upstate of South Carolina for decades and is now the exclusive provider for every Upstate hospital and a large portion of North Carolina. TBC has a long-standing relationship with the Eastern North Carolina medical community through its affiliation with more than 20 hospitals in 26 counties. TBC also has a strong partnership with Vidant EastCare, which provides the critical blood supply needed to support trauma patients with on-board, O-negative units and plasma on its helicopters.

“We are honored to be able to support this community and we are grateful for each new opportunity to connect donors with recipients,” said Delisa K. English, TBC President and CEO. “We want residents to join us by donating blood that will serve friends, family and neighbors. When you give blood with The Blood Connection you are ensuring that the people of this community will have the blood products available to save their lives.”

TBC thanks Onslow Memorial and Martin General for the opportunity to serve their patients. Both hospitals embody the community-centered mentality and dedication to quality healthcare that TBC also exemplifies. Now with two more hospitals to supply, TBC will be expanding its donor collection opportunities in the Eastern North Carolina community.

“We’re looking forward to working with blood donors in this region,” English said. “This is an opportunity to serve more people, help more patients and save more lives. We’re hiring employees and recruiting donors from the local community. Please watch for our signature red blood mobile units and listen for a call from our donor recruiters.”

Every two seconds, someone in the US needs a life-saving blood transfusion and volunteer donors are the only source of blood products. Maintaining an adequate blood supply requires a delicate balancing effort that monitors available supply versus expected demand. TBC’s mission is to ensure all hospital partners have the blood supplies needed for patients at any given time. All of the blood received through donations goes right back into the communities that TBC serves. In locally-driven operations, neighbors are helping neighbors, but only through a strong partnership with the community.

TBC urges all eligible donors to donate to ensure that hospital’s needs for blood are uninterrupted. Although TBC is specifically requesting O-negative blood donations, all blood types are needed.

Donors can visit thebloodconnection.org to find a blood drive. They can also give at the local TBC donation center: 5925 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC. TBC welcomes businesses and organizations that can host a blood drive. To sponsor a blood drive, call 984-222-1100.