(Aug. 14, 2015) — During National Preparedness Month, the American Red Cross urges the community to give blood to help ensure a stable and diverse blood supply is available during emergencies of all types.
A diverse blood supply is important to ensuring the needs of all patients are met. Red blood cells carry markers that determine one’s blood type, and some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups. Because blood from donors of the same ethnic background as the recipient is less likely to cause complications, the Red Cross must maintain a diverse blood supply to meet these diverse patient needs.
Whether blood is needed for a chronic condition such as sickle cell disease, a surgical procedure or a large-scale emergency, it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives. The Red Cross encourages individuals of all types to give blood, and those with types AB, O negative, A negative and B negative are especially needed.
When you come to give blood with the Central Ohio Red Cross in September, you can receive a voucher for a free ticket to an upcoming Columbus Blue Jackets hockey game with the purchase of a ticket, plus enter to win drawings for Blue Jacekts prize packs including game tickets, team memorabilia and a ride on the Zomboni ice resurfacing machine at a Jackets game.
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Iberia
8/20/2015: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Iberia United Methodist Church, 3664 OH-309
Mount Gilead
9/9/2015: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Morrow County Hospital, 651 West Marion Road
9/14/2015: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 East High Street
Shauck
9/19/2015: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 6808 State Route 314
