Buffalo Grove Fire Department Hosts Blood Drive June 28th

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department is helping to spread the message about the importance of donating blood, especially during the summer months when donations are traditionally at their lowest. The Department is proudly hosting its annual blood drive with Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) at Fire Department Headquarters, located at 1051 Highland Grove Drive in Buffalo Grove on Friday, June 28, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

All donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of custard courtesy of Culver’s of Buffalo Grove. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are encouraged and can be made by calling 877-258-4825 or visiting vitalant.org and searching for Group Code 041D.

“It’s extremely important that people donate blood, especially during this time of year when blood donations are at their lowest, not only here in the Chicago area, but across the entire country,” said Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Mike Baker. “There is no substitute for human blood, and we are happy to partner with Vitalant for this important cause.”

In preparation for their donation, donors are advised to eat well, stay hydrated and arrive with proper identification. The donation appointment takes about one hour, with the donation itself taking roughly 10 minutes, and is both safe and comfortable.

All blood types are needed, however, there’s always a special need for type O blood. In emergency situations, when a patient’s blood type isn’t known, doctors reach for type O blood to sustain life until the patient can be stabilized.

According to Vitalant, it takes between 24 and 36 hours to process, test and distribute each blood donation before it is delivered to hospitals.