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The time to give blood is now. Every day, Inova Blood Donor Services is looking for a minimum of 200 appointments to meet the need for blood across the Washington metropolitan region.
Nicholas Lilly, senior director of , said it鈥檚 critical that community organizations, businesses, schools and others partner with Inova.
He shared how Inova鈥檚 fleet of Bloodmobiles helps meet the need during 海角社区app鈥檚 2026 Get on Top of Your Health series.
How often can someone donate blood?
Lilly said whole blood donors can give every 56 days. Those donating platelets can donate every two weeks. Platelets are essential blood components that help stop bleeding and support healing.
鈥淭hat particular product does have a much shorter shelf life,鈥� Lilly said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 only good for five days outside the body, and it鈥檚 in high demand.鈥�
Platelets are essential for patients undergoing surgery and trauma care, during childbirth and cancer treatment, and in critical care settings.
Donors undergo an onsite screening before giving blood. Lilly said donors should plan to spend up to an hour at the Inova Bloodmobile, but the actual process of giving blood takes about 15 minutes.
鈥淎fter the process is over, we鈥檒l wrap them up, give some post-donation instructions, and then they鈥檒l go over to the refreshment area where they鈥檒l get a chance to have some snacks and wait for about 15 minutes, to make sure everything鈥檚 OK,鈥� he said.
Lilly said even if someone is nervous donating for the first time, it鈥檚 knowing the difference they鈥檙e making that helps them overcome any fears.
鈥淭hey may be thinking about who they鈥檙e going to help or who鈥檚 been impacted,鈥� he said.
About the Inova Bloodmobile
The Inova Bloodmobiles are hard to miss. The giant RVs are colorful, bright and easy to spot on the road or at a donation location.
Lilly said each Inova Bloodmobile can accommodate up to eight donors at a time.
鈥淥ur team members who do phlebotomy can see two donors each, and then we鈥檝e got a couple of screening booths inside where they do health histories, they鈥檒l do their vital signs, review their medical history and behavioral history,鈥� he said.
Bringing the bloodmobile to your area
Community partnerships are a key to meeting the demand for blood in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
鈥淲e actually work with faith-based organizations, schools, government organizations, businesses 鈥� anyone under the sun,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e really depend on the community鈥檚 support to be able to help our patients.鈥�
Lilly said the initial process usually takes between eight and 12 weeks. The Inova Bloodmobile will need about 40 feet of space to park. An account manager will do a site visit, go through a blood services agreement and may need to get a certificate of insurance. The blood drive will then be scheduled and marketed.
What happens to the blood after someone donates?
Lilly said blood collected during donation drives makes its way back to Inova鈥檚 facilities in Sterling, Virginia, where it is processed and tested for infectious diseases. Each product, whether it鈥檚 blood, platelets or plasma, is placed in temperature-controlled storage until use.
He said they have more than 30 emergency medical services partners in Maryland and Virginia.
Blood could quickly end up in ambulances, in hospitals and wherever it鈥檚 needed. Lilly said these donations truly save lives. The donations often help mothers during childbirth, cancer patients, during organ transplant surgeries and in other emergencies.
鈥淥ne of the most impactful things that I tend to see is people coming in knowing that they鈥檙e going to be potentially helping someone within their community that might need it in emergency situations,鈥� he said.
The need for blood is constant year-round, but certain periods are more critical. Donations often drop during winter storms and severe weather, making blood supplies especially urgent during these times.
鈥淭he products that are donated today will be made available tomorrow,鈥� Lilly said, 鈥渂ut tomorrow, the need鈥檚 going to continue.鈥�
To make a blood donor appointment or host an Inova Bloodmobile, visit now. And discover more ways to聽get on top of your health on 海角社区app.
