Blood Donor Basics
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Blood Centers Announce Agreement to Merge
(February 14, 2019, Orlando, Florida) The Board of Directors for OneBlood, Inc., the not-for-profit blood center serving Florida as well as areas of South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, and the Board of Directors for Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, Inc. (CBCC), the not-for-profit blood center that operates in the Carolinas, announced they have signed an agreement for CBCC to become part of OneBlood through a merger. The merger is expected to be final in the coming months.
“The time is right for CBCC to take this step and OneBlood is the right partner to help expand our lifesaving services in the Carolinas”, said Martin Grable, President and CEO of Community Blood Center of the Carolinas.
“CBCC’s decision to join forces with OneBlood creates additional alignment of the blood supply in the southeastern United States and further ensures a safe, available and affordable blood supply for our hospital partners and their patients”, said Bud Scholl, President and Chief Executive Officer for OneBlood.
The two centers are wasting no time in getting started. “CBCC will immediately begin to migrate into OneBlood’s intuitive, cutting-edge software platform. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the system brings enhanced features for donors and hospitals”, said Scholl. “We see no reason to wait in making the switch and are excited to bring this state-of-the-art technology to the Carolinas”, said Grable.
A complete rebranding of CBCC will take place when the merger is finalized, including transforming all of CBCC’s bloodmobiles into OneBlood’s signature Big Red Bus.
The merged organization will distribute more than a million blood products annually, service more than 250 hospitals throughout the southeast and employ close to 2,500 people.
Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID is required. To learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type visit oneblood.org. All donors receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron count, including a cholesterol screening, plus a surprise gift.
One of three people will need blood in their lifetime. Blood that is donated today will likely be transfused within two to three days. The turn-around is that fast, the need is constant.
