Olean General and BRMC Launch Blood Drives with ConnectLife

Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) announced a series of community blood drives in collaboration with ConnectLife, the area’s community blood bank. The events aim to encourage local residents to donate blood, a critical resource for patients in need.

Olean General Hospital is hosting its blood drive today, December 1, 2023, from 08:00 to 13:00. The drive will take place on the ConnectLife Bus stationed at the Mildred Milliman Outpatient Surgery Center, located directly across from the hospital. Individuals interested in donating can schedule an appointment by visiting connectlifegiveblood.org and entering sponsor code 000485, or by calling (716) 529-4270.

The blood drive at BRMC is set for December 7, 2023, running from 10:00 to 15:00 in the hospital’s main lobby. To arrange an appointment, potential donors can access connectlifegiveblood.org and use sponsor code 000468, or they may contact Kim Murphey at (814) 362-8298.

Each pint of blood donated has the potential to save up to three lives within the local community. In an effort to incentivize donations, all participants throughout December will receive a pair of tickets to an upcoming Buffalo Sabres home game.

In addition to the immediate incentives, ConnectLife has introduced a new initiative called the Suite Seats for Life Savers promotion. Donors who meet specific criteria by December 31, 2023, will have a chance to win a suite for themselves and 16 guests at Highmark Stadium for the Buffalo Bills’ final regular-season game. To qualify, participants must make either two whole blood donations and one double red cell donation or four platelet donations during this promotional period.

Community engagement through blood donation drives is crucial, particularly as hospitals often face shortages. The collaboration between Olean General, BRMC, and ConnectLife highlights the importance of local support in maintaining a steady blood supply for those in need.