Rhythmlink Combats Blood Shortages With Successful Drive
June 17, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – On Tuesday, June 16, dedicated donors attended Rhythmlink International’s 6th Annual Blood Drive and donated enough blood to save nearly 60 lives. Rhythmlink International hosts the blood drive every year in partnership with the American Red Cross to mitigate the decline in blood donations that typically occurs during the summer months.
“We are thrilled with the outcome and thankful to those that showed up to donate to the Red Cross,” mentioned Garrett Butler, marketing associate at Rhythmlink. “I was worried with it being so hot that the heat would deter some people from donating, but luckily that wasn’t the case and we were able to surpass our goal.”
Every day, the Red Cross must collect 15,000 blood donations to meet the needs of patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. But during the summer months, on average about two fewer donors make an appointment to give at each Red Cross blood drive than what is needed. That can add up to more than 100,000 fewer donations during the summer.
But patients don’t get a summer holiday from needing blood. Blood is needed for patients with many serious medical conditions. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood. Donors who choose to give blood can help save as many as three lives each time they donate.
Rhythmlink’s next blood drive will be in the summer of 2016. Remember blood is always a need in our community and nationwide. Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.
About Rhythmlink
Rhythmlink International is a medical device manufacturing company specializing in devices that help connect patients to machines to record or elicit physiologic information. Rhythmlink designs, manufactures and distributes a variety of medical devices for intraoperative neuromonitoring, electroencephalography, evoked potentials, polysomnography, long-term monitoring epilepsy and critical care units. Founded by neurodiagnostic technicians and engineers in 2002, Rhythmlink enhances patient care worldwide by transforming medical device technology that links patients to equipment. Rhythmlink also offers custom packaging, custom products, private labeling and contract manufacturing services.
For more information about Rhythmlink International, LLC visit www.rhythmlink.com.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.
