LifeShare Blood Center is urging the community to make blood donation part of their summer plans, as demand for blood products historically increases heading into the July 4th holiday.

According to a Pew Research Center analysis, July 4th and 5th are the two busiest days of the year for U.S.
hospital emergency rooms, with nearly 10,000 more patients than an average two-day span. Much of this spike is due to fireworks-related injuries, which frequently require significant blood support. Research from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that about one-third of fireworks-related injuries are burns.

“Burn patients use lots of blood products over long periods of time, especially red blood cells and plasma, due to the loss of red cells and clotting factors with these types of wounds,” said Dr. Tim Peterson, Medical Director for LifeShare. “Plasma and red blood cells are needed to maintain an adequate oxygen supply by the patient as they recover.”

Blood donations are especially critical during the summer months, when donor turnout typically drops.
Compounding this issue is the short shelf life of blood products—red blood cells expire after 42 days and
platelets expire after only 5 to 7 days.

“We rely on each donation, each day, to meet the needs of our local patients and hospitals,” said Mandi
Johnson, Director of Community Engagement. “Unlike most medical treatments, blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled.”

To meet this need, LifeShare is hosting its Summer Lifesaver campaign, June 25–28. All donors during the
event will receive a limited-edition t-shirt and an exclusive Summer Lifesaver insulated tumbler, along with other gifts and prizes. LifeShare is also offering free activities for children so families can donate with ease.

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome. Donors can schedule an appointment at
http://www.lifeshare.org/give or call 800-256-5433 for more information. Complete promotional details can be found at http://www.lifeshare.org/summer.