The Red Cross is once again asking potential donors to roll up a sleeve and give blood. The agency is urging eligible donors of all types, but especially type O to help stave off a crisis situation during the upcoming holidays. Ronnika McFall with Red Cross Communications explains.
“Having enough type O on the shelves is important for ongoing patient care and emergencies,” according to McFall. “Type O positive is the most transfused blood type and can be transfused to RH positive blood patients of all blood types. Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients during the most serious situations.”
McFall says holiday travel and severe winter weather often impact the blood supply during this time of year. But she says in spite of the season’s challenges, the need for blood remains the same.
“The Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations every single day for patients in about 26-hundred hospitals. For Georgia alone, that’s 90 hospitals. Every two seconds, a patient in the United States needs a blood transfusion.
To schedule an appointment, use the free blood donor App, visit Red Cross Blood dot org, call 1-800-Red Cross or 1-800-733-2767 or enable the blood donor skill on any Alexa Echo device.
From now through January 5th, those who give blood or platelets will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt as a thank you.
Upcoming blood drives:
Clarke
Athens
12/18/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Cofer's, 1145 Mitchell Bridge Rd.
12/18/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Jackson
Hoschton
12/18/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Meeting House, 5615 Grand Reunion Drive
Clarke
Athens
12/19/2019: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., St. Mary's Hospital, 1230 Baxter Street
12/19/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/19/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. Mary's Hospital, 1230 Baxter Street
Barrow
Auburn
12/20/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Perry Rainey Center, 16 College Street
Clarke
Athens
12/20/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/21/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/22/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/23/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Jackson
Jefferson
12/23/2019: 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 246 Washington Street
Clarke
Athens
12/24/2019: 8:15 a.m. - 3 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/26/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Oconee
Watkinsville
12/26/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Oconee Veterans Park Community Center, 3500 Hog Mountain Road
Clarke
Athens
12/27/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/28/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/29/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/30/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/31/2019: 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
1/1/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Barrow
Winder
1/2/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Winder Public Library, 189 Bellview Street
Clarke
Athens
1/2/2020: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Barrow
Winder
1/3/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Winder First United Methodist Church, 280 North Broad Street
Clarke
Athens
1/3/2020: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
1/4/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
1/5/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
