By Regina Raccuglia, American Red Cross
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The American Red Cross asks blood and platelet donors to help prevent a summer shortage by making an appointment to roll up a sleeve around the Independence Day holiday.
With blood and platelet donation appointments currently lower than what is needed to maintain a sufficient blood supply, donors of all blood types are urged to schedule an appointment now, especially those with types O negative, B negative and A negative.
The Red Cross must collect 15,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients across the country. This can be challenging during the summer months of June, July and August, when an average of two fewer donors schedule an appointment to give blood at each Red Cross blood drive than what patients need. This seasonal challenge can be overcome if just two more donors – above what is expected – make an appointment and give blood at each Red Cross blood drive the rest of the summer.
“Vacations and other summer activities often conflict with donation appointments for regular blood donors, which makes summer a very difficult time to collect blood donations,” said Regina Conway, Communications Manager, Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region. “Donations decline further near summer holidays like Independence Day. A blood or platelet donation now can help sustain an adequate blood supply this summer.”
To encourage more people to make time to donate blood before and after Independence Day, all presenting blood and platelet donors from June 30 through July 7 will receive a commemorative Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to find a nearby blood donation opportunity or schedule an appointment.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities through the month of July:
Christian KY 7/8/14 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Fort Campbell Commissary 2606 Indiana Avenue
Christian KY 7/11/14 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM 19 Air Support Operations Squadron 7146 Market Garden
Christian KY 7/11/14 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Byrd Health Clinic 7973 Strike Blvd.
Dickson TN 7/2/14 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM Faith Baptist Church 4908 Highway 49 W
Dickson TN 7/3/14 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wal-Mart 175 Beasley Drive
Dickson TN 7/10/14 12:30 PM – 5:30 PM Dickson Cumberland Presbyterian 500 Hwy 70 East
Dickson TN 7/25/14 2:30 PM – 7:30 PM Rock Springs Free Will Baptist 1485 Hamble Rd
Montgomery TN 7/4/14 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM American Red Cross 1760 Madison Street
Montgomery TN 7/5/14 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM American Red Cross 1760 Madison Street
Montgomery TN 7/7/14 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM American Red Cross 1760 Madison Street
Montgomery TN 7/7/14 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM Governor’s Square Mall 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd
Montgomery TN 7/11/14 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Gateway Medical Center 651 Dunlop Lane
Montgomery TN 7/14/14 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM American Red Cross 1760 Madison Street
Montgomery TN 7/21/14 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM American Red Cross 1760 Madison Street
Montgomery TN 7/23/14 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM Hilldale Baptist Church 2001 Madison Street
Montgomery TN 7/28/14 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM American Red Cross 1760 Madison Street
In addition:
Clarksville Blood Donor Center at 1760 Madison St. is open:
• Monday – 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• 1st Saturday of month – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.