CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Blood Assurance, local non-profit community blood supplier, is holding a blood drive at its future Clarksville location today and Saturday, Jan. 22 and 23. Blood Assurance is the sole provider of blood products to Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville.
“We are very excited to expand our operations in the Clarksville area and are looking forward to meeting more members of the community,” said J.B. Gaskins, Blood Assurance president and C.E.O. “We hope that everyone in the community who is able to give blood will stop by our blood drive to save lives and see our new location.”
The Clarksville Blood Assurance center is located at 1767 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. and is scheduled to officially open in February. Blood donation is essential to the hospitals and patients of the community. Patients need blood every day for many reasons including trauma, cancer, and during the delivery of babies.
All donors will receive a fleece blanket and blood type wristband and donors 18 years and older will be entered to win a home makeover themed basket with $400 in gift cards to Target and Lowes. Donors 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 they help area patients, please visit bloodassurance.org.
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. To schedule an appointment or find a center or drive near you, please visit www.bloodassurance.org/schedule, call 800-962-0628 or text ‘BAGIVE’ to 999777.