Aspirus Health and The Community Blood Center Underscore the Life Saving Impact of Consistent Community Participation
World Blood Donor Day Highlights Ongoing Need for Local Blood Donations
6/12/2026
David Lehman, Aspirus Emergency Department Manager
Every day, hospitals across the region rely on donated blood to care for trauma patients, support surgeries, provide cancer treatments, and respond to medical emergencies. In recognition of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, Aspirus and The Community Blood Center are highlighting the importance of blood donation, and the role donors play in ensuring lifesaving blood products are available when patients need them.
The Community Blood Center supplies more than 40 hospitals across the region and supports collections through donor centers and more than 100 mobile drives each month. According to America’s Blood Centers, every two seconds someone is in the United States needs blood and 25 percent of the blood supply is used by patients battling cancer.
“Every donation we collect can reach a hospital in less than 48 hours after testing,” said Danielle Espinoza, Account Manager, The Community Blood Center. “It’s quick, it’s easy, and it can save up to three patient lives. Whether you’re a first-time donor or returning, World Blood Donor Day is a great moment to show support and bring a friend along.”
Seasonal challenges, including winter weather, summer storms, and holiday-related cancellations, can disrupt blood collection and strain the blood supply impacting mobiles and centers. These fluctuations can be especially challenging for smaller hospitals, where inventories are limited, and replenishment is critical to meeting patient needs.
Aspirus teams see the importance of a stable blood supply firsthand. Emergency departments, surgical teams, and inpatient units rely on having blood readily available, even on days when it ultimately may not be used. The unpredictable nature of trauma and medical emergencies makes consistent donor participation essential.
“Blood is a vital resource we need every single day, and it’s something that cannot be manufactured,” said David Lehman, Emergency Department Manager, Aspirus. “Some days we use very little, and other days we go through everything we have. Our partnership with The Community Blood Center helps ensure we can care for patients across the communities we serve, but it only works when people donate.”
World Blood Donor Day serves as a reminder that maintaining a stable blood supply requires ongoing community participation. While awareness events help highlight the need, hospitals depend on regular donations throughout the year to ensure blood is available whenever and wherever patients need it.
To find a blood donation opportunity in your area, visit The Community Blood Center at www.communityblood.org if you are in Wisconsin, the Regional Blood Center at www.uphealthsystem.com/regional-blood-center if you are in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, or Memorial Blood Centers at www.mbc.org if you are in Minnesota.
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