News and Events

In anticipation of the upcoming flu season, Blood Bank of Delmarva is taking steps to maintain a healthy environment at its centers. Hand sanitizers have been placed at all facilities, and employees and volunteers are being urged to stay home if they are experiencing flu symptoms.

What is the flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The flu is not the same as a cold, although they share many of the same symptoms. The flu can cause mild to severe illness and can weaken the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to more serious infections. Some people, such as older people, young children, pregnant women and those with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) are at an increased risk for complications. Every year in the United States, between 5% and 20% of the population gets the flu.

What are symptoms of the flu?
The flu usually comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms:
Fever (usually high)
Fatigue
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Sore Throat
Body Aches or Chills
Headache
Dry Cough
Runny or Stuffy Nose

Policy on giving blood with a cold or the flu:
In order to donate blood, you must be feeling well, in general good health and free of cold or flu symptoms. If you have an appointment to give blood and are feeling unwell, we ask that you please call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 to reschedule your appointment for a later date when you have fully recovered. If you took antibiotics, you must wait 24 hours after the last dose and also be without cold or flu symptoms.

Will getting a flu vaccination defer you from giving blood?
There is no waiting period to donate blood after receiving a flu shot.

Still not sure if you are able to give blood? Please call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8.
For more information on the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

Hanna Richey was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2005, just a decade after recovering from lymphoma. She started chemotherapy and needed a stem cell transplant immediately. Because of the aggressive treatment, Hanna suffered from severely low blood counts and needed eight blood transfusions of platelets and plasma. Thanks to blood transfusions and great medical care, she beat the cancer within a year and has been in remission ever since.

Please consider helping patients like Hanna in our community. Give blood! Call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE for more information.

Listen now!

To show her appreciation to those who take time to donate blood during the holidays and throughout the year, Martina McBride has recorded a 30-second audio message that not only thanks donors for their gift of blood donation, but also encourages donation on a regular basis.

Martina is passionate about her music, her family, and most especially her children, so she often supports causes that focus on the health and safety of kids in communities across the country. She understands the impact that the local blood supply has on the lives of premature infants, those battling childhood cancers and sickle cell anemia, as well as the many other blood related illnesses that effect sick children.

WILMINGTON, DE - The 7th Annual Summer Blood Challenge (SBC) - a competition to recruit the most Blood Bank members and donors during the summer - has ended and total blood donation and membership point totals are in. The top lifesaving employers on Delmarva will be announced at an Awards Party on Wednesday, September 16 from 6pm to 8pm at the DuPont Country Club's Crystal Ballroom (1001 Rockland Rd, Wilmington, DE 19803). Representatives from the 149 competing employers will be present to hear the results and be recognized.

The SBC helps raise awareness of the need for blood at a time when vacations and outdoor activities often contribute to shortages in many areas of the country. This year's Challenge drew in 6,093 blood donations and 1,970 new Blood Bank members. For the sixth consecutive year, Christiana Care Health System earned the most points in the competition. The hospital system recruited 595 blood donors and 183 new Blood Bank members.

The other winning employers in each size category include: Bayhealth Medical Center, BarclaycardUS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, Terumo Medical Corporation, Artesian Water, United Water Delaware, and the Office of Senator Thomas R. Carper.

Wilmington Trust Company won the "B Positive" Award, which goes to the company with demonstrated exemplary support of the Blood Bank. An award will also be given to John David Myers of Amtrak and Wendy Felts of Christiana Care Health System who tied for the most individual blood donations.

Six SBC participants were randomly selected as finalists in the Grand Prize Giveaway and invited to the Awards Party to find out what they won. Prizes include a Fusion Fitness Gift Pack, VISA gift cards up to $500, and the Grand Prize: an all-inclusive dream vacation for two to Edenh Real Arena & Resort in Punta Cana.

2009 Summer Blood Challenge Participants

21st Century Insurance
Accenture
ACE
Amazon.com
American Radiology Services
Amtrak
Anesthesia Services, P.A.
Arlon
Artesian Water
Ashland Inc.
AstraZeneca
ATK
Atlantic General Hospital
Avery Hall Insurance
Bancroft Construction
Bank of America
Bank of Delmarva
Bank of Ocean City
BarclaycardUS
Bayhealth Medical Center
Beebe Medical Center
Benchmark Builders
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware
Boy Scouts of America
Brandywine Chrysler Jeep Dodge
Cardiology Consultants, P.A.
Cardiology Physicians, P.A.
Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
CATO/Goose Creek
Cigna International Expatriate Benefits
Citi
City of Cambridge
City of Fruitland
City of Newark
City of Salisbury
City of Wilmington
Coastal Association of Realtors
Coastal Hospice
Connections CSP, Inc.
Coventry Healthcare
Dassault Falcon Jet-Wilmington
Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc.
Deers Head Hospital
Delaware Alliance FCU
Delaware Center for Maternal &
Fetal Medicine of Christiana Care
Delaware Claims Processing Facility
Delaware River and Bay Authority
Delmarva Heart LLC
Delmarva Power
Dixon Valve
Dorchester County Department of Social Services
Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz & Bhaya
Dow Electronic Materials
DuPont Company
First Shore Federal
Foxfire Printing
GE Energy
Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council
Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, Inc.
Holloway Funeral Home
HBCS
Hebron Savings Bank
Hostmysite.com
HSBC
ILC Dover
Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health
Johnny Janosik
JPMorgan Chase
K & L Microwave
Kent County Levy Court
LNWA/Arbor Management, LLC
Maron Marvel Bradley & Anderson, P.A.
MaTech
McCready Foundation
Moon Nurseries, Inc.
Morale Activities Committee/Wallops Island
Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
New Castle County Government
Noramco, Inc.
Nowland Associates, Inc.
Office of Senator Thomas R. Carper
Parcels, Inc.
Papastavros Medical Imaging
Patterson Schwartz Real Estate
Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates
Peninsula Regional Medical Center
Perdue Agribusiness
PKS & Company, P.A.
Pohanka of Salisbury
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
Printpack, Inc.
Procter & Gamble Dover Wipes
Pro Physical Therapy
QPS, LLC
Sheridan Ford
Sheridan Nissan
Shore Bancshares, Inc.
Shore Distributors, Inc.
Shore Health System
Siemens Healthcare
Somerset County Commissioners
St. Francis Hospital
State of DE-Delaware Economic Development Office
State of DE-Delaware State Police
State of DE-Dept. of Correction
State of DE-Dept. of Education
State of DE-Dept. of Elections-New Castle County
State of DE-Dept. of Finance
State of DE-Dept. of Health & Social Services (DHSS)
State of DE-DNREC
State of DE-Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security
State of DE-Dept. of Svcs. for Children, Youth & Their Families
State of DE-Dept. of State
State of DE-Dept. of Technology & Information (DTI)
State of DE-DELDOT
State of DE-Office of Management and Budget
State of DE-Public Defender's Office
Sussex County Association of Realtors
Taylor Bank
TCVS
TD Bank
Terumo Medical Corporation
Tetra Tech A & E
The Kenny Family ShopRite of Delaware
The News Journal Company
The Reybold Group
Town of Berlin
Town of Middletown
Tri Supply & Equipment
Union Hospital
United Electric Supply
United Parcel Service
United Water Delaware
United Way of Delaware
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Valero
Wal-Mart #1860 - Elkton
Wicomico County Board of Education
Wicomico County Government
Willow Construction, LLC
W.L. Gore & Associates
Worcester County Development Center
Worcester County Government
WSFS Bank
Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor, LLP