NEW “First of its Kind” Donate “At-home” Concierge Program

Submitted by SunCoast Blood Centers

SunCoast Blood Centers has unveiled the “first of its kind” donate “At-home” Concierge Program. If you want to donate blood but want to stay social distanced, than this Concierge Donor Program is for you. This “At-home” donation program is 1 to 1 interaction, which keeps you as save as possible and lets you save lives from the comforts of your own home or office. SCBC mini-vehicle comes to your home or office.
• No waiting
• 1 to 1 service
• 6 days a week. Appointments only.
• Check website to find contact number to schedule your own “At-home” blood donation

NEW LAKEWOOD RANCH LOCATION – Located behind Crowder’s Ace Hardware
• 25,000 SF state-of-the-art donation center designed to create the most comfortable, pleasant, and convenient experience for our blood and platelet donors
• Starbucks Gourmet Coffee Bar with PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE AVAILABLE for every donor
• SCBC new facility includes laboratory services, manufacturing, and administrative offices.

Convalescent Plasma:
• Need for Convalescent Plasma has never been greater
• Last week was the largest demand of Convalescent Plasma ever in the US
• SunCoast has been asked by the government to produce as much Convalescent Plasma as possible
• People that have recovered from COVID-19 develop antibodies that help other people fight off the virus. Its one of the top treatment options available!!!
• The need for Convalescent plasma donors is enormous so SunCoast is offering a $50 Amazon Gift Card for each plasma donation.
• You can donate plasma every 2 weeks
• Convalescent Plasma is provided “Free of Charge” to our hospitals and patients
• We can create 4 therapeutic doses from just one donor!

SunCoast Blood Centers provides blood products to Southwest Florida including Moffitt Cancer Center, SMH, Manatee Memorial and Lakewood Ranch
SunCoast’s donor centers are designed with your comfort and safety in mind. SunCoast has implemented CDC guidelines to all of its donation locations which includes:
– Social Distancing
– Masks for all donor/staff
– Sterilizing all donor touch points before and after
each donor

Blood Donation
• Transfusions are higher than PRE-COVID, but blood donations are not keeping up because people are not coming out to donate
• This past year, while businesses were shut down, the need for blood products never stopped.
• Blood Banks are currently in a National Blood shortage due to the pandemic.
• All blood donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies to find potential Convalescent Plasma donors.
• Blood donation is easy and relatively quick- From door to door its usually under 1 hour of your time.
• Only 3% of the U.S population donates blood, 20 years ago 15% of the U.S Population donated
• Gift the gift of life without shopping. December is one of the slowest months for blood donation due to the holidays. Please be proactive and help SunCoast to avoid blood shortages during this time
• There is no substitute for blood. Only your selfless act can help save someone’s life.
• It helps to eat a well- balanced meal beforehand, including iron-rich foods, but avoid consuming fatty foods and aspirin.
• Every time you donate you earn points for the Donor Reward Program like gift cards from local supporters.
• Age to donate 16 to 106 if your heart is still beating
• Blood is only viable for 42 days (why it always needs replenished)
• One serious trauma or illness can deplete a hospital’s supply for blood or platelets
• Jaelen Story
– Jaelen a Cardinal Mooney baseball player required 17 surgeries after he was critically injured by a car accident
– He needed 29 units of blood to survive.
– His family and friends are now loyal blood donor in honor of the 29 donors who saved Jaelen’s life.
– When you donate blood you don’t just save a life. You save a family.

Platelets
• The need for platelets in our area has grown nearly 60% in the last 2 years and is needed more than ever
• Platelets, which aid the clotting process, are critical in the treatment of cancer patients, trauma victims, surgical patients, and certain blood disorders. Thousands of patients in our community, ranging from newborn babies to seniors, require platelets every year.
• Platelets are only viable for five days so we need more donors to replenish our hospitals.
• You can donate platelets every week, up to 24 times per year.
• Every platelet donor will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card as a BIG thank you!
• Donating platelets takes 1.5-2 hours.
• If you are a type A, B or AB blood donor, please consider donating platelets.
• AB Type donor are the most vital for platelet donation. That is because AB platelet donors are known as “Universal” Donors as anyone can receive platelets from an AB platelet donor. In addition, newborns in crisis can ONLY receive platelets from type AB donors.
• LESS THAN 2% of our population PROVIDES 100% of our platelet needs.
• There is no artificial substitute for platelets; the only source is a healthy, human donor.
• Platelet donors can give more often (up to 24 times per year) because their red blood cells are returned to them during the donation process.
• A cancer patient can use one to three units of platelets per day while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment
• Call 855-977-5283 to schedule a platelet donation.
• TO BE ELIGIBLE YOU MUST:
– Be symptom free more than 14 days
– Provide written documentation of a positive COVID-19 test result
– Meet FDA donor eligibility guidelines
– Go online to find out how to schedule your donation today

Military Partnership:
• SunCoast Blood Centers is proud to announce a new partnership with the U.S. military. The organization will supply blood products, including red cells and plasma, to a U.S. military hospital in Iraq.
• “It’s an honor to support our troops that so ably serve us overseas,” said SunCoast Blood Centers CEO Scott Bush. “The partnership allows us to provide a lifeline for the brave men and women who keep us safe. We invite donors throughout our community to participate in this special collaboration.”
• SunCoast Blood Centers will send regular shipments of red cells (O-positive and O-negative) and plasma to an army base in Texas, which will send the units to a U.S. military hospital in Iraq.
• SunCoast Blood Centers is asking donors aged 16 and over to donate now to help support our troops. Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood at any SunCoast Blood Centers location or bloodmobile by visiting suncoastblood.org or calling 1.866.97.BLOOD.

Cancer:
• Up to 50% of SunCoast blood products goes to cancer patients
• We serve Moffit Cancer Center, Florida Cancer Specialists and soon Sarasota Cancer Center
• SCBC plays an important role in combating cancer
– Mononuclear Cellular Therapy – Stage 4 Prostate Cancer to make the patient more comfortable. Though its not a cure, this treatment has provided extra comfort for the patients and have extend the quality of life for up 2 years.
– CAR-T (sounds like its written Car T) is a processing cancer therapy that SunCoast and other researchers are working together to advance this treatment option
• Karissa Story – Blood Recipient
– Karissa was diagnosed with Triple Positive breast cancer. Her doctors attacked this very aggressive form of cancer with a 4-drug chemotherapy regimen before undergoing a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.
– In June 2018 following her surgery, Karissa experienced a small-vessel hemorrhage and required 3 units of blood. Today she is a blood donor.
– 3 pints of blood saved her life

More than just a blood bank…
• Leader in the industry to provide pathogen reduce platelets in the country.
– First blood center in US to provide pathogen reduced Platelets to a hospital
– Safest platelet product in the world and we offer it here in our area and to our community
• SunCoast provides therapeutic services at the patient’s bedside – These procedures are like an oil change, where the bad cells or plasma is removed from the person and they are given fresh cells or plasma to treat various blood disorders including Sickle Cell Anemia
• Research Opportunities – We partner with bio-research firms to advance medical studies and clinical trials
• Support recovery from natural disasters like Hurricanes – SCBC meets the local needs first but when they can SCBC supports other blood banks around the country. For example, in 2017 when hurricane Harvey hit Texas SCBC were the first blood bank to respond by adding additional drives and ship over day more than 300 blood products before the hurricane made landfall. Two weeks after we received helped back with Hurricane Irma

High School Students:
• In a normal year 20% of our collections come from High School Students. Now due to COVID only 2% of the communities blood comes from HS donations. We need the young donors to donate or we may face a crisis!
• Currently SunCoast Blood Centers is NOT permitted to send their buses to the High Schools due to COVID-19

• We are in our 12th year offering scholarships to high school seniors. Students that donate 3 times or more and/or volunteer 30 hours with SunCoast Blood Centers are eligible to apply. SunCoast is proud to awarded more than $250,000 to students from 14 local high schools.

Covid-19 Precautions:
• SunCoast staff are taking extra steps to ensure a safe donation experience by implementing various disinfecting protocols.
• Masks MUST be worn by both donor and staff
• All sitting and donor beds are socially distance, separated by a minimum of 6fts.
• SunCoast recommends that before you come in to donate, please take your temperature. If it is above 99.5 please refrain from donating for 14 days
• If you or anyone in your household are experiencing any symptoms of illness, please refrain from donating for 14 days.
• Donating blood is safe and there is no known risk of transmitting COVID-19 through a blood transfusion.

Donor Center Locations:
Sarasota
1760 Mound Street, Sarasota, FL 34236
Lakewood Ranch

Gatewood Corporate Center
3025 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34211
Venice

Bird Bay Plaza
539 US Hwy 41 Bypass, North Venice, FL 34285
Bradenton

Bayshore Shopping Center
6026 14th Street W., Bradenton, FL 34207
Port Charlotte

Charlotte Square
2150 Tamiami Trail Unit 17, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
suncoastblood.org | 1-866-972-5663