St. Christopher’s in Oak Park, Moms Demand Action, and Versiti Blood Center of Illinois Collaborate to Host Second Annual Blood Drive

A donation of blood is a gift of oneself to another human being the donor will likely never meet.

In early May, St. Christopher’s in Oak Park joined forces with Moms Demand Action, Oak Park/Austin Chapter, and Versiti Blood Center of Illinois to hold their second annual blood drive. Moms Demand Action is an advocacy group that seeks to end gun violence.

Overall, 55 units of blood were collected, exceeding the original goal of 43 units. Each unit of blood has the potential to help up to three patients, and this drive may impact as many as 165 individuals, according to Jorge Rico of Versiti Blood Center of Illinois.

“St. Christopher’s and Moms Demand Action, together with Versiti Blood Center, put an incredible effort into making this blood drive such a success,” said the Rev. George Arceneaux IV, rector of St. Christopher’s. “Because of their leadership and the generosity of our donors, many lives will be saved.”

Blood transfusions are especially crucial for victims of gun violence as well as patients with sickle cell disease. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets. Consider these facts:

• Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U. S.
• Gunshot victims require 10 times more blood units than people seriously injured by non-gun assaults.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
• Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with this disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.