Inova Blood Donor Services Partners with Blood Centers of America to Help Las Vegas Victims

Falls Church, VA,– In the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Inova Blood Donor Services is partnering with Blood Centers of America (BCA) to ensure the city’s blood needs are met. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this tragic event and we are working with local Las Vegas blood suppliers through BCA’s national network.

We have learned that Las Vegas suppliers currently have enough blood on hand to support the local trauma centers, and BCA is coordinating with centers on a national level to  ship additional Type O red blood cells and platelets to replenish inventory.  Blood centers in the BCA network, including Inova Blood Donor Services, stand ready to ship additional blood should it be needed.

“In the aftermath of tragic events, we are always asked how people can help,” said Terri Craddock, Director, Inova Blood Donor Services. “The answer is: donate blood. There is no substitute for human blood, so the only way we can help is by ensuring that our blood inventory is stocked.  We not only need blood immediately following events such as this, but we encourage donors to make a commitment to donate blood regularly – every two months if they are eligible.”

Eligible donors can donate whole blood up to six times per year, every two months (56 days).  Giving blood the maximum amount per year is about six hours total of your time and has a huge impact for the patients who need life-saving blood products.

The mission of Inova Blood Donor Services is to provide a safe and adequate blood supply to the diverse communities we serve. Please make an appointment to donate today by calling 1-866-BLOODSAVES or walk in to any of our Inova Blood Donation Centers.

Media Contact: Tracy Jones Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org

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About Inova
Inova is a global leader in personalized health, which leverages precision medicine together with more patient-centric services to predict, prevent and treat disease, enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. At Inova, we serve more than 2 million people each year from throughout the Washington, DC, metro area and beyond.

We are shaping the future of health through our integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes.  Our commitment to health and wellness is further reflected in our sustainable practices. Inova is home to world-class researchers, expert medical specialists and renowned scientists, who are driving innovation to improve patient care, prevent disease and promote wellness. For more information, visit inova.org, or find Inova on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.