Florida Hospital Orlando (see more articles like this)

WHAT: Having a loved one in the hospital can sometimes cause people to feel helpless.  But now Florida Hospital Orlando and Florida’s Blood Centers (FBC) are making it easier for family members and friends of hospital patients to do something – donate blood that can save lives.  Every three seconds, someone in the United States needs a pint of blood.  And although 65 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, only 5 percent actually do it.  To help encourage blood donation and make it easier for patients, visitors and staff in the hospital to donate blood, FBC is opening a new blood donor station at Florida Hospital Orlando – the new location is larger and more visible than the previous one.  Located across from the Gift Shop near the main lobby of the hospital, people will be able to donate blood Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The new station will be dedicated today by City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and representatives from Florida Hospital and FBC. 

BKGRD: In 2005, 734 people donated blood at Florida Hospital Orlando.  In 2006, that number rose to 829 people.

Opened in 1908, Florida Hospital is one of the largest not-for-profit hospitals in the country, caring for more than a million patients per year – that’s more than any other hospital in the country, according to the American Hospital Association.  The nearly 1,800- bed system, comprised of seven hospitals and 16 Centra Care walk-in medical centers, has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best hospitals in the country for the past eight years.
 
Founded in 1942, Florida’s Blood Centers (FBC) is the sole supplier of blood and blood products to 72 healthcare facilities in a 21-county area.  FBC is the largest independent blood center in the state and the fourth largest in the nation, collecting more than 350,000 pints of blood from volunteer blood donors annually.  FBC also offers national tissue matching and bone-marrow donor registration.  For more information, visit www.floridasbloodcenters.org.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Dedication ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Florida Hospital Orlando
            601 E. Rollins St.
            Orlando, FL 32803

VISUALS: Interview opportunities and visuals available today include:
• City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
• Randy Haffner, administrator of Florida Hospital Orlando
• Mike Pratt, chief operating officer of Florida’s Blood Centers
• Tour of the new blood donor station at Florida Hospital Orlando
• Florida Hospital employees donating blood