Mark Radel of Amberly Village proudly became the first platelet donor at our new Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center in Cincinnati, Ohio when it opened in September. The new facility is housed at the Cincinnati Chapter office on Dana Avenue.
A retired IBM worker, Radel had been a long-time blood and platelet donor but had fallen out of practice. Now, with the convenience of the new Cincinnati facility, Radel said he’ll become a regular donor once again. “It’s my way of giving back. I know how important it is and I’m giving a part of myself,” said Radel.
The opening of the Cincinnati Blood and Platelet Donation Center comes on the heels of the opening of a new Blood and Platelet Donation Center in Newark, Ohio. The new facility in Licking County was welcomed by Newark’s Mayor Jeff Hall, the Licking County Foundation and other prominent citizens and organizations in the area during special ribbon cutting ceremony in March.
“This new blood collection center is the culmination of a lot of hard work and generous financial contributions from so many community members,” said Rod Cook, Executive Director of the American Red Cross East Central Ohio Chapter. “By making an appointment to give blood or platelets donors can feel good knowing that they may be helping patients not only in their community, but also their family and friends across the nation. The Red Cross, and all our supportive partners, are pleased to offer donors this new opportunity to help provide hope, healing and access to treatment for patients in need.”
With the addition of the Newark and Cincinnati facilities, there are now eight Blood and Platelet Donation Centers operating in the Central & Southern Ohio Region.
These new facilities in our region are part of national efforts by the American Red Cross to significantly increase the number of blood and platelet donation centers across the country as a means to provide more convenience for donors by offering frequent and consistent donation schedules.
The new facilities also allow for the growth in the collection of platelets which require specialized collection equipment, apheresis machines, not present at on-location blood drives. Platelets are small cell fragments in blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding. Platelets can be essential to surviving surgeries such as organ transplant, as well as fighting cancer, chronic diseases, and traumatic injuries.
A father and daughter from Central Ohio, who are regular donors at our Lancaster Blood and Platelet Donation Center, understand the importance of platelet donations and have made it their joint lifesaving mission to give. You can read their inspiring story here.
Plans have been approved for another Blood and Platelet Donation Center to be built in the Miami Valley in fiscal year 2027.
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