#BestGiftEver

Every day, the RI Blood Center counts on the community to help provide over 200 units of life-saving blood & blood products to Rhode Islanders and their neighbors.

They provide blood throughout the state and regionally for patients being treated at leading hospitals. They run six full time donation centers across Rhode Island.

The need is acute around the holidays so the RI Blood Center is reaching out with a special holiday campaign. In December, all presenting donors at our six centers will be entered to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card.

More Than a Blood Center

The Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) was founded in 1979 as a non-profit community blood center. For over 40 years, they have been the primary supplier of blood and blood products to patients being cared for in hospitals throughout Rhode Island and in neighboring states. Their mission is to help save lives by ensuring a safe, plentiful and cost-effective blood supply. 

RIBC is much more than just a blood collection organization or blood bank. They register people for the National Marrow Donor Program and collect stem cells of donors who match recipients needing bone marrow transplants right at the Providence Center. They provide therapeutic treatments for patients in local hospitals. Their state-of-the-art laboratory conducts human leukocyte antigen (HLA) histocompatibility, red cell typing, and immunogenics. They are also involved in a variety of local and national research programs in an effort to improve all aspects of the blood supply. 

RIBC has long-standing relationships with many organizations in the community who sponsor blood drives. These sponsors help inspire, educate and encourage the many volunteer blood donors needed to supply over 200 units of blood and blood products that must be collected each day to meet the needs of patients and hospitals we serve in Rhode Island and throughout New England. 

The Rhode Island Blood Center is a division of New York Blood Center.

Can You Donate?

• All donors must be feeling well and healthy on the day of donation and be in good overall health. You can donate on most medications and with various medical conditions. 

For donors 17+ years of age and up (there is no upper age limit to donating):

• To donate a pint of whole blood or platelets
  • Men and women must weigh 110 pounds or more
  • There is no height requirement 
• To donate double red cells
  • Men donating red cells must weigh 130 lbs and be at least 5’1″
  • Women donating red cells must weigh 150 lbs and be at least 5’3″

16-year-old donors:

• You can donate blood or platelets with a parent’s permission and must have a signed permission slip.
• You must weigh 130 pounds or more.

Safety of both our blood donors and those who need transfusions is of the utmost importance. Here are some reasons why you cannot donate:

• You are pregnant
• You are currently taking antibiotics for infection
• You have cold or flu symptoms
• You have had hepatitis B or C
• You have any sexually transmitted diseases

Where Can You Donate?

Blood and platelet donation centers are designed for maximum donor comfort, including comfortable donation lounge chairs, TV, free WIFI and plenty of parking. The state-of-the-art automated blood donation technology offers the option of giving just the component of blood patients need the most based on your blood type. Along with the amazing feeling of helping to save lives, come and enjoy cookies, hot coffee, hot chocolate, ice-cold juice, water and other refreshments.

There are centers located in: Westerly, Providence, Woonsocket, Narragansett, Middletown, and Warwick.

For more information, go to: https://www.RIBC.org