UHC Main Host of June 7 Blood Drive at The Bridge
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on June 03, 2023
WVU Medicine United Hospital Center is partnering with non-profit blood services organization Vitalant to host a blood drive on Wednesday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Bridge Sports Complex in Citynet Center Court 1 located at 400 Forrester Blvd in Bridgeport.
UHC encourages eligible blood donors in the community to give at this important event. Appointments are recommended – either by phone at 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825), or by visiting vitalant.org.
Although many people are returning to pre-pandemic activities, blood donation is not one of these, resulting in an ongoing blood shortage. This shortage could lead to patient care delays.
Vitalant supplies blood to UHC as well as other WVU Medicine facilities. Donors of all blood types are needed, especially type O donors. Anyone who meets eligibility requirements can donate blood regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Vitalant and UHC wants to remind area veterans that the FDA recently updated its blood donor eligibility guidance. Those who have spent time in France, Ireland or the United Kingdom are no longer permanently deferred from donating blood due to risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD, also known as mad cow disease).
Blood donors are encouraged to eat a nutritious meal and drink plenty of water the day of their appointment. Everyone should bring ID such as a driver’s license or Blood Donor I.D. card. There is no waiting period to donate after receiving an FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccine or seasonal flu shot.
