In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, donating blood often takes a backseat to our long lists of things to do. As a result, donations fall to dangerously low levels during this time of year. Unfortunately, the demand for blood does not. Indeed, HUP uses an average of 160 units of blood products every day, 365 days a year.
At the Penn Medicine Blood Donation Center, donating is easier than ever. With four available beds, it can support 26 donations a day. You can quickly schedule an appointment online, at www.pennmedicine.org/give-blood, but walk-ins are always welcome. Each presenting donor in December will receive a Gia Pronto gift card in appreciation of their commitment to helping our patient population by donating blood.
Even more important, what’s collected at the Center stays at Penn, helping the patients we care for even more.
The Center will soon offer a Platelet Collections Program along with its red cell and plasma collection services. Platelets promote clotting, which is especially important for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantations or receiving many forms of chemotherapy. A drop in their platelet count makes them susceptible to life-threatening bleeding. More information about this new program will be available as the launch date approaches.
Located on the Penn Tower Bridge, the Penn Medicine Blood Donation Center is open 8 am to 4 pm weekdays.
In this season of giving, think about giving the gift of life: Donate Blood. Please.
