Miami Beach Blood Drive Highlights Upcoming Launch of Prehospital Blood Transfusions

Miami Beach, FL – Not-for-profit OneBlood’s BigRedBus will be parked outside Miami Beach City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing residents, city employees and members of the community an opportunity to donate blood during the next Miami Beach City Commission meeting. The bus will set up along 18 Street outside Miami Beach City Hall at 1700 Convention Center Drive. Blood donors will receive a free $20 e-gift card and a Big Red Bus T-shirt.

The blood drive comes ahead of the launch of the Miami Beach Fire Department’s new prehospital blood transfusion program, which will make the department the first fire rescue agency in Miami-Dade County to provide blood transfusions in the field. The upcoming program highlights the important role blood donors play in making lifesaving blood products available.

“Blood donations save lives every day, whether that blood is needed at a hospital or during a medical emergency in the field,” said Miami Beach Fire Chief Digna Abello. “As we prepare to launch this new capability in Miami Beach, we want to remind our community just how important every blood donation can be.”

The department will partner with OneBlood to maintain a reliable supply of blood for EMS.

“Type O blood donors are the foundation of the pre-hospital blood program. We strongly encourage type O donors to make blood donation a habit, they hold a crucial role in helping save trauma patients and are vital to the blood supply,” said OneBlood’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Susan Forbes. “Type O blood is the blood type in the highest demand by hospitals. Every donation helps ensure a ready supply and enables first responders to administer lifesaving transfusions when seconds matter and a person’s life is on the line.”

The Miami Beach Fire Department encourages those who are able to donate blood to do so and help maintain the lifesaving blood supply. Those unable to donate on Sept. 10 can find a OneBlood donor center or upcoming BigRedBus blood drive by visiting www.OneBlood.org.

Donors can make an appointment to donate blood on Thursday, September 10 by visiting https://donor.oneblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/1821371. Walkups are also welcome.

WHAT: OneBlood Blood Drive

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: 18 Street outside Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive

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