As the busy Fourth of July holiday week gets closer, the American Red Cross asks donors to celebrate by making a blood donation appointment to help power the blood supply through mid-summer. While all blood types are needed, donors with type O blood are most urgently needed.
Making and keeping donation appointments now is critical to ensuring blood products are available for all patients – including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions – in the weeks to come. Type O negative blood is often reached for in emergencies when there isn’t time to match a patient’s blood type. Type O positive is the most common blood type, so it’s important to keep type O blood and all blood types on hand at hospitals for people facing both chronic illness and sudden, life-threatening conditions.
Local upcoming blood drives include:
- Thursday, July 10, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Clintonville Ruritan Club, 18918 Midland Trail W., Crawley
- Monday, July 21, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church, 214 E. Washington St., Lewisburg
- Monday, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center Annex 1, 1320 Maplewood Ave., Ronceverte
- Tuesday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Robert C. Byrd Clinic, 1464 Jefferson St. N, Lewisburg
Don’t wait – add a blood donation appointment to your summer calendar today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
The Red Cross and goodr are joining forces in July to remind donors they’re just the type patients can count on. All who come to give July 1-14, will get an exclusive pair of Red Cross x goodr sunglasses, while supplies last. Donors can personalize their one-of-a-kind shades with a blood type sticker! For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/goodr.
Or, those who make it in to give by June 30, will get a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, plus be automatically entered to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/June.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
