Miller-Keystone Blood Center

Serving Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, Southern Luzerne, Upper Bucks, Western Montgomery and Western Schuylkill (PA) and Warren (NJ) counties.

YOUR DONATION. YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR BLOOD CENTER. Your community blood supply is currently in need of B-NEGATIVE and O-NEGATIVE donations, as well as PLATLET donations, at this time. Call 800-223-6667 schedule your appointment today!

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MKBC Donates Blood Units to Haitian Relief Efforts

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA –  Officials at Miller-Keystone Blood Center today confirmed the donation of 25 units of red cells to Haitian relief efforts. The contribution is part of a cooperative effort with Blood Centers of America, a cooperative of community blood centers providing approximately 30% of the nation’s transfusion requirements.   

 

According to Joseph Yelo, Vice President of Administration, the donated blood products have been shipped to Community Blood Center of South Florida, where they will be combined with life-saving units donated from other blood centers throughout the nation.  The blood supplies will then be airlifted to Haiti on Tuesday evening, February 2.

 

“Miller-Keystone Blood Center is privileged to respond to the tragic earthquake in Haiti by providing emergency blood supplies,” stated Yelo, noting that if necessary, additional requests for blood products will be coordinated among its blood center partners throughout the nation.

 

He confirmed that the donation comes from Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s existing blood inventory, and that the need for a larger donor appeal is not anticipated at this time. 

 

“However,” he added, “we encourage all eligible donors with the O-negative blood type to schedule an appointment, as individuals having this blood type are ‘universal blood donors,’ meaning that the red cells from an O-negative donor can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type.”

For more information or to schedule a donation, contact Miller-Keystone Blood Center at 800-223-6667.

Residents Encouraged To Give Blood This January During National Blood Donor Month

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA –  Miller-Keystone Blood Center – exclusive blood supplier to our regional hospitals – has announced the kick-off of National Blood Donor Month 2010. Together, blood banking organizations across the country are appealing to all eligible blood donors to donate the gift of life this January – a time when blood supplies across the nation are traditionally in short supply. As part of this month-long event, the names of all individuals registering to donate at any MKBC donor center between January 1-31, 2010, will be entered into a raffle to have their residential heating bill paid for one month. The donation can also be made on one of the Center’s community blood drives held during January.

“Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood,” explains Marsha Springel, Manager of Donor Resources. “Unfortunately, too many Americans wait until they or a family member need blood before they truly realize the importance of volunteer blood donations. Donating blood saves lives. It may not be you, your family member or your neighbor that needs blood today. But someone, somewhere does.”

“Donating blood is a simple, safe, life-saving, and selfless gift that millions of Americans can do,” Springel continues. “As we celebrate the New Year, we’re asking people in our region – and across the Country – to remember to give thanks, and give the gift of life by donating at least twice in 2010.”

During this annual, month-long observance, the blood banking community is encouraging healthy individuals to donate in January, and to pledge to donate at least one more time during 2010. January is usually a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood donations due to holidays, busy travel schedules, inclement weather and winter illnesses.

“The winter season can lead to a reduction in donor turnout, which can put our nation’s blood inventory at a critical low,” states Springel, who confirms that while our region’s current blood inventory is at adequate levels, inclement weather, seasonal illnesses and low donor turnout projected in January is expected to lead to decreased inventory levels in the coming weeks. Therefore, she notes, the Center is encouraging any eligible whole blood or platelet donors to schedule an appointment at this time.

“While holiday activity and inclement weather may prevent people from donating blood, accidents and illness do not take a holiday,” adds Springel. “Blood is needed every day to care for premature infants, people with cancer and other diseases; for burn victims, surgery patients or organ transplant recipients; and to save the lives of accident victims. Our mission is to ensure that these blood products are readily available to patients at our regional hospitals whenever needed – and it is only blood that has been donated that can save lives.”

“We encourage individuals throughout the region to schedule an appointment to donate,” concludes Springel. “Blood has a shelf-life of only 42 days, which means it constantly needs to be replenished. Donors can give whole blood every 56 days, and platelets on a more frequent basis, up to 24 times per year.”

Those interested in donating blood may call Miller-Keystone Blood Center at 800-223-6667 to schedule an appointment.

MILLER-KEYSTONE BLOOD CENER ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL BLOOD DRIVES AT QUAKERTOWN'S TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 

Drives Will Be Held First And Third Monday Of Each Month

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA - - Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) has announced that, beginning in November 2009, blood drives at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (102 N. Hellertown Avenue, Quakertown) will be held twice per month.  Previously, blood drives were held on the third (3rd) Monday of each month; they will now take place on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Monday of each month. All drives will be held from 3:00pm-7:00pm, and upcoming blood drive dates include November 2, November 16, December 7 and December 21.  

“Miller-Keystone Blood Center has served as the only blood provider to St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital (formerly Quakertown Community Hospital) since 1978,” explains Romina Manucci, Manager of Telerecruitment for the not-for-profit community blood service.  “It is Miller-Keystone’s responsibility to ensure that patients served by St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital receive the blood products they need in a safe, timely and consistent manner, and in this role, we can only be as successful as the support we receive from within the community.”

Manucci continues, “We are grateful to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church for their ongoing support, and we look forward to continue working with them to help promote an understanding of the necessity of a safe and stable blood supply within the region.”

Manucci notes that in addition to whole blood donations, Miller-Keystone Blood Center utilizes automated blood collections at these blood drives. “Automated technology makes it possible for donors who meet specific eligibility requirements to donate two units of red cells, or a unit of platelets, maximizing the life-saving effect of their generous donation,” she explains.

“When someone donates blood, they are doing one of the most amazing things anyone can dream of – saving a life,” she adds. “Blood donations play a significant part in the health and welfare of area hospital patients, as they play a critical role in saving the lives of premature infants, accident/trauma victims, surgical patients, burn victims, and individuals undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.”

“However, it is important to remember that blood cannot be manufactured,” Manucci concludes. “It is only blood that is donated that can save lives.”

To schedule an appointment for any of the upcoming blood drives at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, call Miller-Keystone Blood Center at 800-223-6667.