Mercy Health Encourages Blood Donations

Blood Drive to be held October 8 at Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital

Last month, the American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage, after its national blood inventory plummeted more than 25% in July. Typically, the summer months present donation challenges between vacation travel and summer activities. This year, those obstacles were compounded by the extreme summer heat that impacted blood drives across the country, all the while demand for life saving blood remained constant.

That is why Mercy Health is urging community members to donate blood, ensuring that it is available for life-saving measures if necessary.

In partnership with American Red Cross, Mercy Health hosts regular blood drives to ensure that we have an adequate stock of blood. Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital will be hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8 at the hospital. Make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org. Use Sponsor Code: Mercy.

To ensure the safety of both patients and donors, there are requirements that must be met. For more information about eligibility, visit redcrossblood.org.

Mercy Health encourages all willing and able to donate blood to help manage the current crisis that is being faced. Donating blood today can help save a life tomorrow.

About Mercy Health – Lorain

Mercy Health – Lorain is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours Mercy Health provides care for patients more than 11 million times annually through its network of more than 1,200 care sites, which includes 49 hospitals. In 2023, BSMH provided more than $600 million dollars in community investments across five states, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to health care for our patients in need. Locally, Mercy Health – Lorain is a full-service, not-for-profit, integrated health care system, which has been providing quality health care to Lorain County and surrounding communities for more than 125 years. The health system provides inpatient, outpatient, and ancillary services through its two hospitals, Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital and Mercy Health – Allen Hospital in Oberlin; Mercy Health Physicians; and specialized facilities, including the Mercy Health – Cancer Center, Mercy Health – Outpatient Rehabilitation and Therapy, and Mercy Health – New Life Hospice. The mission of Mercy Health – Lorain is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit Mercy Health online at www.mercy.com.