American Red Cross | Central Ohio Blood Services Region




		Media Center *Score a win for patients by giving blood with the Blue Jackets, OhioHealth* September 2009 COLUMBUS – Thanks to the Columbus Blue Jackets and OhioHealth, everyone can feel like they are part of the team this September by going to give blood. For the fifth consecutive year, the Columbus Blue Jackets and OhioHealth have teamed with the American Red Cross to recruit blood donors in a month-long campaign called “Hockey: It’s in Your Blood!” Last September, more than 18,500 pints of blood were donated in Central Ohio through the partnership, supporting patients at 39 area hospitals. “Our team is very excited to join OhioHealth in encouraging everyone to donate blood,” said Ken Hitchcock, head coach of the Blue Jackets. “With the ongoing need for blood, we’re happy to support the ‘Hockey: It’s in Your Blood’ campaign with the Red Cross for the fifth straight year.” When you come to donate blood in Central Ohio during September you can register for a number of icy-cool prizes, including: Weekly drawings for Columbus Blue Jackets/OhioHealth Prize Packs, which include two free Blue Jackets game tickets, autographed team memorabilia, and a one-hour massage from OhioHealth! A ride on the Zamboni ice machine at a Blue Jackets hockey game! Your own LCD TV to watch the Blue Jackets at home in style! Everyone who comes to donate will also get a voucher for specially priced tickets for the “Hockey: It’s in Your Blood” Red Cross Night at the Blue Jackets game on Oct. 13 vs. the Calgary Flames. The need for blood is constant. Trauma victims, cancer patients, premature babies and children who suffer from sickle cell disease often need blood products to survive every day here in our own community. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood, and in Central Ohio alone, the Red Cross needs more than 650 donors each day to support patients at area hospitals, including OhioHealth associated hospitals. “A single blood donation can help save up to three lives, and it only takes about an hour,” said Rodney Wilson, spokesperson for the Central Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “What could be a better way to spend an hour of your time?” More information on the Columbus Blue Jackets can be found at BlueJackets.com, and information on OhioHealth can be found at ohiohealth.com. 07/09AP821			Media contacts Central Ohio Blood Services (614) 253-2740 1-800-338-8086 Rodney J. Wilson Communications Manager extension 2347 e-mail Heather Reichle Communications Specialist extension 2275 e-mail Other Red Cross lines of service You can find your local Red Cross chapter by searching on redcross.org or by checking the white pages of your local phone directory. National media inquiries Click here for listings

Score a win for patients by giving blood with the Blue Jackets, OhioHealth