Darvin Blood Donor Day, Sunday August 17th 11am-4pm
EVERY DAY more than 10,000 patients rely on the generosity of blood donors to survive.
Every day, patients in your community need blood transfusions to survive and thrive. They rely on the generosity of donors like you, who help ensure a safe, healthy blood supply.
Why Is Darvin Participating?
Darvin Furniture and Mattress is hosting a blood drive from 11am - 4pm Sunday, August 17, at the Orland Park showroom, 15400 La Grange Road. Darvin is hosting a blood drive to answer Chicagoland health care facilities' critical shortage of blood.
"At Darvin, we are employee-owned, and we live in the communities we serve. So, when we heard about the critical blood shortages in the Chicagoland area, we wanted to try to do something more to help out," says Darvin Furniture & Mattress President Will Harris. "This is our first blood drive for 2025, but it will not be our last effort to help our communities to get through tough times."
Sign Up to Donate Today
Frequently Asked Questions
Are donor center and blood drive staff required to wear a face mask?
Effective March 20, 2022, masks will not be required in our donor centers due to lower COVID cases in our communities and current CDC recommendations. Masks may be required at a community blood drive if located in a facility that requires them or per host request.
Is it safe to donate due to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19)?
The donation process itself poses no risk of infecting a donor with coronavirus. If you’d like to donate blood, you are able to as long as you’ve been symptom free for 14 days. We are monitoring and adhering to guidance from the FDA. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Can I donate if I’ve received the Covid-19 vaccination?
Individuals must wait two days after the day of vaccination to donate blood or platelets.
Why should I donate Blood?
This is a volunteer opportunity like no other. Versiti is the only provider of blood to the community hospitals where you live and work. Medical technology has provided many life-saving discoveries over the years, but there is still no substitute for blood. In a medical emergency, often the most important element is the availability of blood. Your blood donation can help:
- Trauma victims
- Surgery patients
- Premature babies
- People with anemia
Can I donate if I take medications?
Most medications will not defer you from donating blood. Before you make an appointment, however, check the medication deferral list. If you are currently taking antibiotics for an infection, you will be eligible to donate two days after your course of treatment is complete.
What about my Health History?
There are a few additional conditions that may prevent you from donating, including:
- Receiving any blood transfusions in the last three months.
- A history of hepatitis B or C
- High risk for HIV/AIDS
- If you've ever taken Tegison
- If you used needles to take anything not prescribed by your physician in the past 3 months.
Can I donate if I’ve traveled to foreign countries?
The short answer is yes. There are some exceptions that may defer you from donating, including:
- If you have traveled to an area affected by malaria in the past year, we ask that you wait three months from the time you returned home before donating blood.
- If you have ever had malaria, you must be symptom-free for three years.
What form of Identification (ID) is needed to donate?
The following forms of ID with a birth date and photo will be accepted:
- Driver’s license
- State-issued ID card
- Student identification card
- Passport, visa or green card
Can I donate if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Pregnant women are not eligible to donate blood — your body needs all the nutrients it can get! We recommend speaking with your doctor at your 6-week postpartum appointment to verify whether or not it is OK for you to start donating blood again.
Women who are breastfeeding are eligible to donate. Most nursing mothers say that eating a healthy meal before donating and staying hydrated before, during and after helps ensure a successful donation.
Ensuring Donor Safety
- All donor-facing staff will have their temperature taken prior to beginning their work day
- Donors temperatures will be taken at registration to ensure they are not elevated prior to entering donor areas
- Donors will be asked if they’ve come in contact with someone who’s tested positive for COVID-19
- Donors will be asked to wash hands prior to screening
- Donors will be asked if they are currently experiencing coughing or shortness of breath
- If any of the above is true, donors will be asked to self-defer
Cleaning
- We Clean all equipment, beds, and other surfaces after each donor finishes their donation
- Changing gloves frequently and between donors is part of our normal practice