Residents Encouraged To Give Blood This January

Miller-Keystone Blood Center – the exclusive blood supplier to our regional hospitals – has announced the kick-off of National Blood Donor Month 2007. 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.

“Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood,” explains Kelly Jones, Director of Donor Resources, Miller-Keystone Blood Center. “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,” Jones 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 2007.”

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 2007. 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 Jones, who confirms that while our region’s current blood inventory is at adequate levels, low donor turnout projected during the month of December 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 Jones. “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 the blood on the shelves that saves lives.”

“We encourage individuals throughout the region to schedule an appointment to donate,” concludes Jones. “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.”

To schedule an appointment, call 800-223-6667.

(December 2006 )

Give the Gift of Life This Holiday Season.

As we enter the holiday season, Miller-Keystone Blood Center is once again requesting assistance to ensure that the needs of patients at our regional hospitals are met.

The winter months are a critical time for community blood centers, as increased holiday activity and family travel, combined with seasonal illnesses, inclement weather and accidents, lead to a sharp decline in blood donations. The need for blood by patients in our community hospitals, however, does not go away – in fact, it traditionally intensifies during this time.

People don’t often consider the importance of having sufficient supplies of blood on the shelf until they or a family member need it. But by that time it is too late to begin the recruitment process… the blood is needed right then and there.

Between now and New Years Day, our community hospitals will require more than 9,100 blood donations in order to treat premature infants, accident/trauma victims, cancer patients and burn victims. Unfortunately, regional blood collections during this time are expected to yield only approximately 7,750 blood donations. That is a difference of 1,350 donations. Who will make up this difference?

It is only the blood on the shelves that can save lives. Please take the time to consider helping the blood center maintain its proper inventory levels, so that should you, your family, your friends or your co-workers need the gift of life, it will be there for them. Call 800-223-6667 today to schedule your life-saving blood donation.

(November 2006 )

MKBC Launches Effort to Educate, Inspire Next Generation of Blood Donors

(May 2006 )

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES RECOGNIZE BLOOD CENTER

Miller-Keystone Blood Center volunteer Jean Achey of Bethlehem was recently named as one of ten finalists, and ultimately one of two runners-up, for the Philadelphia Eagles 2004 “Community Quarterback Award.” This award recognizes outstanding volunteers and awards financial contributions to the charitable organizations that they serve. As part of her recognition, the Philadelphia Eagles have made a grant in Ms. Achey’s name to the Blood Center.

Ms. Achey joined the Blood Center as a volunteer in 1987. Since that time, she has donated over 9,500 hours of service as Canteen Attendant both at fixed sites and on bloodmobiles; she has also assisted with special events and other promotional activities. In addition to her service to the Blood Center, Ms. Achey also donates her time and talent as a volunteer to many other organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley, including The Allentown Symphony, The State Theatre, the Zoellner Arts Center, ChriskindelMart, MusikFest and Celtic Fest.

“The Blood Center is sincerely grateful to Jean for her service to our organization,” says Mary Liz Bauer, Director of Volunteer Services, Miller-Keystone Blood Center. “We are so proud to have her as a member of our ‘family,’ and are thrilled to have the Philadelphia Eagles recognize her contributions to our organization and our community.”

“In addition to volunteer blood donors, our service volunteers play a vital role in the operations of the Blood Center,” Bauer explains. “These individuals serve in a variety of roles, including donor aides, canteen attendants, telerecruitment reminder callers, drivers, and office support, as well as volunteering for various special events held by the Center.”

Over 350 units of blood are needed each day by the hospitals in our region. Bauer notes that over the past year, more than 500 volunteers donated over 35,000 hours of service, supporting the Center's mission to provide a safe and continuous blood supply to our communities. “These volunteers include retirees, business people, and high school/college students from throughout our region, who provide assistance at our fixed sites in Allentown, Bangor, Bethlehem, Easton, Hazleton and Reading; and at over 850 annual blood mobiles throughout eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey,” she adds.

For more information on volunteer opportunities
Volunteering with the Blood Center provides individuals with the opportunity to make friends, learn new skills, build self-confidence, and explore career choices. A Blood Center volunteer must have the willingness to learn, the ability to work with people, and a desire to contribute to the community. Training and ongoing support is provided. Many positions are available during the week and on weekends, with morning, afternoon and evening hours available. Opportunities exist for people who prefer a set day and time, as well as those who prefer a more flexible schedule. For more information, contact the volunteer office at 610-691-5850, ext. 211, or visit the Volunteer Opportunities link.

(01/18/2005 )

Miller-Keystone Blood Center Launches Donor Testing Services Division.

Officials of Miller-Keystone Blood Center announced today the establishment of a Donor Testing Services Division.

“The establishment of our new Donor Testing Services Division was made possible after the opening of our in-house NAT (nucleic acid testing) laboratory in July 2003, and subsequent renovations to our laboratory department, which were completed in January 2004,” says Robert Arana, Director of Laboratory Services. “The Food & Drug Administration (FDA), which licenses and regulates blood centers across the nation, required the implementation of NAT, the next generation of testing for infectious disease, on all blood donor samples. This testing enables the Blood Center to detect infections of HIV, HCV, West Nile Virus and other diseases at earlier stages.”

Arana explains that the Blood Center’s Laboratory Services include:

• Testing performed six (6) days a week; results within 24-hours of receipt


• A professional, experienced staff, available through a customer helpline 24 hours per day,
  seven (7) days per week


• Test results available electronically, or via fax transmission


• Testing nomenclature customized to reflect an organization’s current terminology, and
  


• Immunohematology reference laboratory services, including patient/donor antibody resolution,
  rare blood inventory and platelet antibody screening and cross-matches.

(1/29/2004 )

Blood Center Will Defer Donors Who Have Traveled To Iraq.

Officials at Miller-Keystone Blood Center announced today that effective immediately, they have implemented a one-year deferral for military and other personnel who were stationed, traveled, or resided in Iraq. Upon notification from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), blood centers across the nation will be implementing this deferral, a precaution to mitigate any potential risk of transmission of leishmania by blood transfusion.

“Leishmaniasis is an endemic disease transmitted by sand flies in Iraq, as well as other parts of the world, including the Middle East, Mediterranean Coast, Asia, Africa, Central America and South America,” explains D. Kip Kuttner, D.O., Vice President and Medical Director, MKBC.

“Several cases of leishmaniasis have recently been diagnosed in members of the US military deployed to Iraq, where the disease in native,” he adds, noting that “the incubation is generally 2-6 months.”

Dr. Kuttner explains that history acknowledges at least six cases of transfusion-acquired leishmaniasis, and that research indicates leishmania can survive for up to 25 days in blood products stored under traditional blood bank conditions. “Armed services personnel often donate regularly at civilian facilities,” he concludes. “Therefore, it is prudent for blood banks to defer donors who have potentially been exposed to leishmaniasis.”

The deferral for military and other personnel will begin after the date they last left Iraq, and last for one year.
Any donor that is subsequently diagnosed as having contracted leishmaniasis is permanently deferred from donating to the community’s blood supply.

(10/17/2003 )

BLOOD CENTER TAKES ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS
IN WAKE OF WEST NILE VIRUS REPORTS

Between August 28, 2002, and January 3, 2003, there were 14 confirmed cases of transfusion-transmitted West Nile virus reported in the United States. These cases occurred in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and New York. As of Friday February 5, 2003, there were 60 human cases of West Nile Virus reported in Pennsylvania.

Miller Memorial Blood Center/Keystone Community Blood Bank continues working to keep the blood supply as safe as possible, including taking precautions to prevent the West Nile Virus from entering the blood supply. These actions include working closely with test manufacturers to develop a test for West Nile Virus, which the Blood Center anticipates being available to screen blood donors as early as July 2003. In addition, Miller/Keystone - along with blood centers throughout the country - has withdrawn from hospital inventories frozen blood products which were collected during the peak period of transmission in 2002, and is stockpiling frozen blood products collected during the winter and into spring when the risk of WNV transmission is the lowest.

“Donors are being carefully screened for the presence of fever headache and flu-like symptoms because a person fighting West Nile Virus infection may have only mild symptoms,” explains D. Kip Kuttner, D.O., Vice President and Medical Director. “We are requesting that donors developing flue-like symptoms within 2 weeks of donating blood notify the Blood Center.”

“It would not be prudent for blood centers to automatically defer anyone with a mosquito bite,” Dr. Kuttner continues. “Mosquito bites are common, especially during the summer months when the blood supply runs traditionally low. Deferring anyone with a mosquito bite would put the blood supply in an even more tenuous position. We would run the risk of not having enough donors to meet patients' lifesaving needs.”

The West Nile Virus was first reported in 1999 in New York. Since that time, it has spread across the continental United States.
The virus is acquired from infected birds by mosquitoes, which then transmit the virus when they bite. Most cases of the diseases are mild and demonstrate only flu like symptoms, while approximately 1% of cases are of the most serious form - encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. Death occurs in 3 to 15% of these patients, most of whom are elderly or have weak immune systems.

Community efforts to aid in the control of mosquitoes may be effective in decreasing the number of WNV cases reported in the upcoming months. These efforts include eliminating stagnant water (a breading ground for mosquitoes), wearing protective clothing and considering the use of insect repellants.

“Patients in our area hospitals should not be concerned about receiving a blood transfusion,” he concludes. “Many patients' lives are saved by blood transfusions, and for most, the risk of not receiving blood is much higher than the risk of contracting a virus from donated blood.” In addition, there is absolutely no risk for blood donors to contract West Nile Virus, or any other disease, by donating blood, as all instruments used in the blood donation process are disposable and used only once.

Blood supplies are traditionally low during the summer months and all eligible donors are encouraged to donate. For more information please call the Blood Center at 610-691-5850 or 800-223-6667. Information on the West Nile Virus may be found at the following web sites: www.westnile.state.pa.us/health.htm and www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/westnile.html

(February 2003 )