Community Blood Bank in Erie unveils new bloodmobile

The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York unveiled a new bloodmobile Thursday, its latest effort to increase blood donations.

The 38-foot mobile blood unit replaces one of the Blood Bank’s older, smaller vehicles, which is being donated to the Global Blood Fund and will be sent to Mexico City. Another existing blood mobile will remain in the fleet that is similar in size to the new vehicle.

Community Blood Bank, which supplies blood to most northwestern Pennsylvania hospitals, collects about 70 percent of its blood at mobile blood drives.

About 40 people turned out for the unveiling ceremony Thursday at the Blood Bank’s Erie headquarters.

The new bloodmobile, which cost about $300,000 and is based on a Winnebago RV, will allow the blood bank to increase the number of drives and, with five donation beds, the number of donors who can give blood at one time.

“We (now) have a new vehicle that can better serve our donors and reach a broader base of donors, as well,” said Deanna Renaud, Director of Donor Services for the Blood Bank.

 

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