Buffalo Grove Fire Department blood drive set for June 28

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department will host its annual blood drive with Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 28, at Fire Department Headquarters, 1051 Highland Grove Drive in Buffalo Grove.

All donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of custard courtesy of Culver's of Buffalo Grove. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are encouraged and can be made by calling (877) 258-4825 or visiting vitalant.org and searching for Group Code 041D.

"It's extremely important that people donate blood, especially this time of year when blood donations are at their lowest - not only here in the Chicago area, but across the country," Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Mike Baker said. "There is no substitute for human blood, and we are happy to partner with Vitalant for this important cause."

In preparation for their donation, donors are advised to eat well, stay hydrated and arrive with proper identification. The donation appointment takes about one hour, with the donation itself taking roughly 10 minutes, and is both safe and comfortable. All blood types are needed, but there's always a special need for type O blood. In emergency situations, when a patient's blood type isn't known, doctors reach for type O blood to sustain life until the patient can be stabilized.