, September 14, 2001
Community Blood Bank
Contact:	Joyce Halvorsen 474-1781 432-1781 (cellular)

The Community Blood Bank (CBB)is returning to regular hours. The CBB is not normally open Friday, Saturday or Sunday. • 30th and “O” street: Monday through Thursday - open at 6:15 a.m, last appointment is 5:30 p.m.. • 2917 Pine Lake Road (south of SouthPointe Pavilions, behind DaVinci’s): Monday and Thursday - open at 7 a.m., last appointment at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday - open at 7 a.m., last appointment at 6 p.m. TO DONATE: If you have an appointment to donate blood, it is very important that you keep that appointment or contact CBB at 474-1781, 440-2159 or fax to 474-5986. There are many names on the waiting list to take an available appointment. Walk-ins without an appointment will be asked to leave their names and phone numbers. If you have never donated to the CBB before, contact the CBB at 474-1781 to leave your name and phone number. New donors will be contacted in the days ahead. Previous CBB donors will also be contacted in the future. Companies and organizations wishing to secure a block of time for an in-house blood drive at one of the two CBB locations should fax the following information to 474-5986: names, phone numbers and blood types, if known. Groups of 40 or more wishing to donate should fax the information to the same number, attention Jill Baker. Because of the tremendous response, mobile blood drives are now being reserved for several weeks ahead. Financial donations are also being accepted at both CBB locations. ALL BLOOD TYPES ARE BEING ACCEPTED. BLOOD WILL CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS. VOLUNTEERS WILL BE NEEDED JUST AS BADLY IN THE WEEKS AHEAD AS TODAY, MAYBE MORE. The CBB made national news this week as a result of its efforts to deliver blood to the East Coast. Lincoln was able to immediately airlift 256 units of blood to New Jersey, nearly matching that from the Denver and Chicago areas. More than 900 units of blood were collected this week at the CBB. A typical week will see 550 units collected. CBB Director Phyllis Ericson said this week’s tragedies reinforce CBB’s commitment to maintaining an emergency blood supply. Every unit collected undergoes extensive testing, which takes nearly 48 hours. "When blood is needed, it is needed now, not in two days," said Ericson. "Because CBB stands prepared, we were able to ship blood out immediately." "The CBB cannot begin to thank all those who patiently waited to donate blood, called and gave us their names for future contact and shared their time and skills this week,” said Joyce Halvorsen, Director of Donor Resources. "Area grocers, food suppliers, restaurants and individuals have also played a key role in providing a seemingly endless supply of refreshments." Donors must: be at least 17 years of age. There is no upper age limit. weigh at least 110 pounds. have had no tattoos in the past 12 months. be in general good health with no colds, flu, cold sores or antibiotics in the past 72 hours. If this is a first-time donation, donors must be able to provide printed proof of their Social Security numbers. Nebraska drivers licenses do NOT have the Social Security number.

Lincoln Responds to Tragedy