The next time you hear about a traffic accident where someone is seriously injured … think about this; a single crash can require doctors use up to 50 units of blood.

According to ImpactLife, about 62% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, but only about 3% donate at least once a year. Blood Center manager of Public Relations Kirby Winn says blood is needed for so many situations.

“It could be a patient in treatment for cancer, someone needing surgery, if there’s a trauma with blood loss and a patient comes into the emergency room, those are all reasons that don’t change because it’s winter weather outside, and that’s why this time of year, even though we might face cancelation of blood drives and loss of appointments related to weather, we always need to maintain a strong and stable inventory.” 

Winn says the blood center which serves OSF HealthCare strives to have a minimum 5-day supply of all blood types. It considers inventory “critically low” at less than a 2-day supply. ImpactLife currently has a 3-day supply of type O-negative, A-negative, and AB-negative red blood cells while other types are at higher levels.

ImpactLife has been hit by blood drive cancelations and hundreds of missed appointments due to winter weather so far this year. By early February, the blood center was working to recover the loss of more than 550 donations across its four-state service region. ImpactLife also provides blood components used by 26 air and ground ambulance services in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.

According to Winn, considering the losses due to weather, inventory levels are holding up well. But he says the supply is just one big snowstorm from having a serious issue.

The number one reason people choose to give blood is their desire to help others, but the blood center hopes its Donor For Life rewards program can motivate additional donations as well.

Winn says there are several ways donors can benefit.

More than one reward option

“The way that it works is after giving blood, the donor will receive an email with a link to use to redeem for that electronic gift card to their choice of a variety of retailers and restaurants, places that we all know. Or they can choose those points to use in our reward store. Or finally, the option to give charitably to a nonprofit organization.”

Donors need to select the Good Giving option to receive information on how to direct their charitable donation.

ImpactLife also has an easy-to-use smart phone app that tracks reward points, helps donors find nearby donor centers and blood drives, track their donation history, view wellness info and prompt donors to give more often. The intent of the app is to keep current blood donors engaged and to attract new donors, which is especially important for the long-term stability of our region’s blood supply.

ImpactLife provides blood to more than 120 hospitals and emergency medical services teams in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin, including OSF HealthCare facilities. Winn says to meet patient needs for blood and blood components, the blood center requires more than 3,000 donations from volunteer blood donors every week.

In addition to allowing for easy sign-up to donate at a local blood drive, the app also stores important health information such as heart rate and what your blood pressure was for the last donation.

For more inspiration about how your donation can make a difference, watch Brianne’s story.

Sign up here for an ImpactLife account or download the ImpactLife app, which is available for both Android and Apple smart phones. 

Video clips with Kirby Winn

B-roll for blood bank app (ImpactLife)

The pre-hospital transfusion program began Monday, when Eureka-Goodfield EMS received two units of type O-positive red blood cells and two units of plasma from the ImpactLife distribution hub in Peoria. Two Eureka-Goodfield EMS ambulances will now always carry red blood cells and plasma.

Matthew Jackson, MD, medical director of pre-hospital and EMS at OSF HealthCare, also serves as medical director for Eureka-Goodfield EMS and Peoria Area EMS. He helped shape the pre-hospital transfusion program for Eureka-Goodfield, the first ground ambulance service in Illinois to carry blood components on board its ambulances. He describes pre-hospital transfusion as a growing area of patient care that lies at the intersection of emergency medical service and transfusion medicine.

“Bleeding from an uncontrolled hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable death among trauma patients,” Jackson said. “Every minute counts for these patients, so receiving blood products from trained first responders can significantly improve survival, reduce the length of hospital stays and help decrease the overall use of blood once patients arrive at the emergency department.”

“We are truly honored and excited to be the first ground-based EMS service to carry blood in Illinois,” said Eureka-Goodfield EMS Division Chief Randy Wolfe. “This milestone reflects Eureka-Goodfield EMS’ commitment to innovation and patient care. Carrying blood on our ambulances allows our medics to deliver critical lifesaving care sooner, closing the gap between rural emergencies and definitive care for the entire region.”

January is National Blood Donor Month ImpactLife provides blood components used by 26 air and ground ambulance services in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Eureka-Goodfield EMS is served by the ImpactLife distribution hub in Peoria, which also provides blood components for OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Graham Health System in Canton, and OSF and Carle hospitals in Galesburg, Bloomington, and Urbana.

ImpactLife invites communities across its service region to Put Good Into the World as supporters of our region's blood supply in 2026. This January, ImpactLife joins blood providers across the U.S. in celebrating blood donors, blood drive coordinators, and volunteers during January's National Blood Donor Month.

The first National Blood Donor Month was recognized in 1970, following a proclamation by President Richard Nixon and a Joint Resolution of the U.S. Congress. The month-long recognition pays tribute to volunteer blood donors and encourages new donors to join the cause during a season that can present some of the greatest challenges for our region’s blood supply. Extreme weather, seasonal illness, and the need to recover donations lost during the busy holiday season all contribute to the challenges blood providers face during the month of January.

The blood center invites donors to support the region’s blood supply by scheduling appointments for donation at its Peoria Donor Center and on mobile blood drives held across central Illinois. To book an appointment, call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401, visit www.bloodcenter.org, or download the ImpactLife mobile app at www.bloodcenter.org/app.