CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Blood Assurance, a local nonprofit community blood supplier, has opened a new donation center at 1767 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. The grand opening for the new center will be March 5.
The center will be open five days a week including Saturdays. Hours and days will vary for the first few weeks on Monday-Wednesday, with hours Thursday-Saturday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Hours are posted on bloodassurance.org.
“We are excited to open our new Clarksville center and to provide a convenient location for Clarksville community members to give blood and save lives. We look forward to serving our community and meeting new BALifesavers,” said President and CEO of Blood Assurance J.B. Gaskins.
Blood Assurance is the sole provider of blood products to Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville. Patients need blood every day for many reasons including trauma, cancer, and during the delivery of babies. Blood Assurance, like most blood centers across the nation, is facing a decline of donors due to COVID-19. Having a healthy blood supply is essential to hospitals and patients in need in Montgomery County.
All donors will receive a T-shirt when they give blood, and donors who give twice in 2021 will be entered to win a side-by-side ATV. For more information about Blood Assurance, their giveaways, blood donation and how they help area patients, please visit bloodassurance.org.
Blood Assurance is continuing to take extra precautions 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.
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. To schedule an appointment visit bloodassurance.org/schedule, call 800-962-0628 or text ‘BAGIVE’ to 999777.