News and Events

PICTURED: Jeannette Taylor, Atlantic General Hospital

Ocean City, MD - 51-year-old Jeannette Taylor, a pulmonology nurse at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, knows the lifesaving power of blood. She has been a blood donor for more than 30 years and, because of her job, she is reminded about the need for blood every day.

"As a nurse, I know how critical blood products can be. When somebody's teenager is pulled from a car wreck and they need blood, you just don't know how desperate a situation that can be for that family," Taylor said. "Giving blood is not something I even think about. It's as common as going to the mailbox, really. It's just a part of your life. It's easy to give knowing that my body will just make more blood... for my next donation."

Taylor will join hundreds of other blood donors from the greater Ocean City area at the 11th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive. The two-day event will be held at the Ocean City Convention Center (40th Street and Coastal Highway) on Tuesday, January 27 from 10:00am - 6:00pm and Wednesday, January 28 from 9:00am - 5:00pm.

The blood drive was established to promote blood donation during the winter, a time when blood supplies traditionally dip as donors are kept away by colds and flu, bad weather and holiday travel. In its first year, the two-day event registered fewer than 300 donors; the 2008 drive registered 640 donors - a record high.

Taylor is grateful that the Blood Bank has programs and events in place - like the Beach Blanket Blood Drive - to help avoid serious blood shortages that affect other parts of the country.

"I didn't worry about the blood supply when my husband was in an accident and might have needed a transfusion. I didn't worry about the blood supply when my mother had a Carotid endarterectomy in the 80's. I didn't worry about an adequate blood supply when my father required open heart surgery in the 90's," said Taylor. "I trusted the Blood Bank would be there for them if they needed it... and it was."

Blood donors at the event will receive a free t-shirt and great snacks and coupons from Ocean City businesses. There will be live entertainment and live radio broadcasts by Clear Channel and Delmarva Broadcasting stations.

Anyone who would like to give blood during this drive should call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE for an appointment. Walk-ins will be taken as time allows.

Donate in comfort - then relax on "Blood Drive Beach"
The whole donation process is very simple and takes about an hour. It consists of a short medical interview, the actual blood donation (which takes approximately 5 minutes) and a visit to the canteen for refreshments. Donors giving blood on the ALYX system - a machine that collects two units of red cells while returning the other blood components to the donor - will find their donation takes just 12-20 minutes.

The real party begins as donuts, pizza, chips, baked goods, fresh fruit, candy and more await blood donors in the Beach Cantina. The oceanfront-themed canteen features refreshments donated by Ocean City restaurants and shops. Donors can relax on "Blood Drive Beach" with reading materials and beach music.

Directions:
From Ocean Pines, Salisbury and south of Ocean City:
Take Route 90 East into Ocean City
Turn right at light on Ocean Highway
Convention Center is on 40th Street on the right

From north of Ocean City:
Take Route 1 South to 40th Street
Convention Center on right
- OR -
Take Route 113 South to Route 90 East
Turn right at light on Ocean Highway
Convention Center is on 40th Street on right