Blood center aids Haitian relief

ROCKFORD — Rock River Valley Blood Center contributed 25 units of blood Wednesday to a national effort to provide blood products to support patients in Haiti.

The donation was part of an American Association of Blood Banks Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism shipment of blood units from Rock River Valley Blood Center, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, Florida Blood Services, LifeSource, Memorial Blood Centers, Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center and the American Red Cross. Heartland Blood Centers also assisted in the delivery coordination.

The shipment arrived in Haiti on Friday.

“We would like to thank our blood donors for their ongoing commitment that allows us to help save lives whenever and wherever the need arises,” said Rock River Valley Blood Center CEO Linda Gerber. “Our first priority is always to make sure the needs of patients at our community hospitals are met. Once those needs are met, RRVBC is always willing to assist others when possible.

“The need for blood is constant. We cannot plan for disasters like this, but we can work to ensure when they do happen that there is a stable blood supply in place.”