Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and LifeSource will host a blood drive to celebrate World Blood Donor Day

Barrington, Ill.—Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and LifeSource will host a blood drive to celebrate World Blood Donor Day in the Prairie Room at Good Shepherd on Friday, June 8, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Good Shepherd is located at 450 West Highway 22 in Barrington.

Donating blood is a simple process consisting of registration, a medical interview, a mini-physical, the donation itself and refreshments. The process takes approximately one hour. Strict procedures for every step of the process ensure the safety of the donor and of the blood supply. Every measure is taken so that the donation is safe for the donor and the blood recipient.

According to the American Red Cross, 38,000 blood donations are needed per day. Each donation could save the lives of three other people.

“Blood products are critical to the treatment of patients in many medical settings, so an adequate and reliable source of blood is essential,” said Oliver Kim, M.D., Chairman of Pathology at Good Shepherd. “The blood bank is solely dependent on individual acts of generosity to maintain its supply. Giving blood saves lives."

World Blood Donor Day is an international event celebrated every year on June 14, the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the ABO blood group system. The event is meant to raise awareness of the need for blood donation and to increase voluntary donation around the world. The theme of the 2012 World Blood Donor Day campaign, “Every blood donor is a hero” focuses on the idea that every one of us can become a hero by giving blood. While recognizing the silent and unsung heroes who save lives every day through their blood donations, the theme also strongly encourages more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly.

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-877-LIFESOURCE (1-877-543-3768) or visit https://donateblood.lifesource.org/itxm/mobile_scheduler/bdc_schedule.php?page=city&did=43817.

About Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington is a medical care facility with approximately 700 physicians representing 45 medical specialties. Highly skilled physicians and clinical professionals provide a comprehensive range of services including advanced surgical procedures. For 30 years, Good Shepherd Hospital has been providing its patients and communities with quality, compassionate health care, wellness programs, and community education. It is also a leader in delivering the most advanced technologies and techniques available in the northwest suburbs. Good Shepherd is part of Advocate Health Care, one of the top 10 health care systems in the country and the largest health care delivery system in Illinois.

For more about Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital: www.advocatehealth.com/goodshep.