Six blood drives at local Delaware breweries are scheduled throughout the month of July
DELAWARE – The Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD)’s 4th Annual Blood for a Brew campaign, which began in May, is continuing into July with six more blood drives at fantastic local breweries across the state, spanning from Wilmington to Lewes. Presenting donors will receive a free t-shirt, plus a chance to win a brewery gift card.
The campaign began on May 20th with a blood drive at Dogfish Heads’ headquarters in Milton, and the second round will kick off on Monday, July 15th at Crooked Hammock Brewery in Middletown. Each summer, this campaign helps to keep hospitals stocked with the blood supply they rely on to save lives.
BBD’s partnership with local breweries aims to encourage young and first-time blood donors to step up and save a life. The summer period from Memorial Day through Labor Day represents a challenging period, with school breaks, family vacations and holidays causing up to a 25% decline in donations. Encouraging blood donations during this difficult summer period is essential to making up for this deficit and meeting the needs of patients in Delmarva.
It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.
19 breweries are hosting blood drives this summer, more than double the amount of the inaugural campaign. Additional upcoming drives include:
- Crooked Hammock Brewery, Middletown – July 15th
- Two Stones Pub Newark – July 19th
- Crooked Hammock Brewery, Lewes – July 22nd
- Stewart’s Brewing Company – July 23rd
- Two Stones Pub Middletown – July 25th
- Two Stones Pub Wilmington – July 26th
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit delmarvablood.org or call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8.
