“Not all of us are gifted with the talent to be a big league baseball player, an tennis star or even the next Tiger Woods,” said Steve Beeler, CEO, Tennessee Valley Region. “But most of us can be heroes in the game of life by donating a pint of blood to a person in need.”
Those in need of blood include accident and trauma victims, people undergoing surgeries, and cancer and chemotherapy patients. Blood recipients can be young or old, family or friends, event a neighbor down the street.
During March and April everyone who presents to donate blood at a Red Cross Blood center or blood drive will receive an American Red Cross life-saving team baseball hat. Locally, you can donate blood at one of the following locations;
•Monday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Land Between the Lakes located at 100 Van Morgan Drive in Golden Pond.
•Tuesday, March 10, from 12 Noon to 6 p.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church located on Hwy. 68 in Cadiz.
Currently, there is less than a 12 hour supply of blood types 0-negative and B-negative.
Individuals at least 17 yeas of age (16with completed Parental Consent Form), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and are in general good health, may be eligible to donate blood. There is no upper age limit for blood donation. A whole blood donor can give blood every two months.
Individuals unable to donate blood can still play their part by organizing Red Cross blood drives or assisting as a volunteer at local drives. For more information or to schedule an appointment, donors should call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit www.bloodisneeded.org. The Red Cross reminds those coming to donate to bring a photo ID.
(Information for this staff report was submitted by the American Red Cross.)
