CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Blood Assurance, the sole supplier of blood products to Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville, is holding a blood drive at Austin Peay State University Thursday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the University Center.
“We are very excited to hold a drive at Austin Peay and continue meeting our Clarksville community members,” said J.B. Gaskins, Blood Assurance president and C.E.O. “As the sole provider to Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville, it is imperative that we are able to depend on the donors of this community for support.”
Blood Assurance will be collecting whole blood and convalescent plasma donations at this drive. Whole blood is used in hospitals every day to help patients in a host of different situations including trauma, childbirth, cancer, and more. Convalescent plasma donations are used by patients in the hospital fighting COVID-19. The plasma can only be collected from donors who have recovered from COVID-19 and have been symptom-free for 14 days. The antibody-rich plasma is transfused into a struggling patient in hopes that the antibodies will fight the virus.
To schedule an appointment to donate whole blood at this drive, donors can text BAGIVE to 999777, visit bloodassurance.org, or call 800-962-0628. Donors who would like to schedule to give convalescent plasma must call 800-962-0628.
All donors will receive a T-shirt. Convalescent plasma donors will be entered to win a MacBook Air and will receive a $25 Walmart e-gift card. Any blood donor can also give twice this year to be entered to win a side-by-side. For more information about Blood Assurance, their giveaways, blood donation, and how to help area patients, please visit bloodassurance.org. For more information about convalescent plasma, potential donors can visit bloodassurance.org/covidplasma.
Blood Assurance is continuing to take extra precautions at this time to ensure the safety of donors and staff. Staff and donors are required to wear masks and staff are frequently disinfecting all items and surfaces used by donors. They are also accepting donors by appointment only and these appointments are being spaced apart to ensure adequate distance. Blood donation is essential to the infrastructure of healthcare and the only way to ensure patients have the blood they need is for people to donate. Blood cannot be manufactured and all blood used in community hospitals is from volunteer donors.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more, and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids — avoiding caffeine — and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.