FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2003
CONTACT: Carol Anderson
canderson@emich.edu
734.487.4400

American Red Cross Save a Life Tour Comes to EMU

YPSILANTI – A lot of tours come to Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center but one of the upcoming groups could save lives.
EMU will host the American Red Cross Save a Life Tour (SALT) at the Convocation Center, Sunday, July 27, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

SALT is a national campaign that hopes to collect three million blood donations in six months.

The tour includes a museum-on-wheels with interactive, high-tech displays that emphasize the importance of blood donation. Also included are unique ways to honor blood donors, a county-to-county donation competition and fun activities for all ages. The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. –
2 p.m. Admission is free.

This is the first time the Red Cross has embarked on a public awareness tour of this scope, but the need for blood to supply American’s hospitals is acute, said Diane Ward, CEO of Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Region. Blood is needed by someone every two seconds and only five percent of the eligible population give blood, she said.

Red Cross supplies blood products to more than 50 hospitals in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and St. Clair counties.

For more information on the Red Cross Save a Life Tour or to make an appointment to give blood, go to www.givelife.org or call 800.GIVE-LIFE.

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