Red Cross asks for blood donors before the holidays
With the busy holiday season approaching, the American Red Cross encourages donors to give blood now to help ensure a sufficient supply for patients this winter.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, many regular donors delay giving due to holiday activities and travel. This often decreases the amount of donated blood available for patients.
More donations are needed in the weeks leading up to the holidays to help stock the shelves for patients like Emily Bratton. After the birth of her first child, she received several units of blood.
“I know that my life was saved because someone, somewhere, was willing to donate their blood,” said Bratton. “There aren’t words to describe how incredibly thankful I am that people are willing to donate blood to help a stranger.”
Give patients in need another reason to be thankful – make an appointment to give blood. Download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 1-15 in Montgomery County: MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Ambler
11/7/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Temple University, Bright Hall, 580 Meetinghouse Road
Blue Bell
11/13/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road
Fort Washington
11/1/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Fort Washington Elementary School, 1010 Fort Washington Ave. 11/2/2017: 2p.m. - 7 p.m.: St. Thomas Episcopal Church-Whitemarsh, 7020 Camp Hill Road 11/7/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Trumark Financial Credit Union, 335 Commerce Drive 11/8/2017: 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., 7050 Camp Hill Road 11/15/2017: 6:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.: Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., 7050 Camp Hill Road
Harleysville
11/10/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Advent Lutheran Church of Goshenhoppen, 470 Landis Road
Haverford
11/1/2017: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30p.m.: Haverford College, Founders Hall, 370 Lancaster Ave. 11/2/2017: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30p.m.: Haverford College, Founders Hall, 370 Lancaster Ave.
Horsham
11/1/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Wawa, 1510 Easton Road 11/1/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: St. Catherine of Siena, 321 Witmer Road 11/7/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Keith Valley Middle School, 227 Meetinghouse Road 11/13/2017: 9:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m.: Horsham Township Community Center, 1025 Horsham Road
King of Prussia
11/5/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Temple Brith Achim, 481 S. Gulph Road 11/7/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Upper Merion Township Building, 175 W. Valley Forge Road 11/9/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Vencore, 720 Vandenburg Road
Lafayette Hill
11/2/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: St. Philip Neri School, 3015 Chestnut St.
Lansdale
11/6/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: St. Stanislaus Parish Center, 51 Lansdale Ave. 11/10/2017: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.: Towamencin Township Building, 1090 Troxel Road
Maple Glen
11/5/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Beth Or Synagogue, 239 Welsh Road
Merion Station
11/14/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Temple Adath Israel, 250 N. Highland Ave.
Norristown
11/10/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.: The Pathway School, 162 Egypt Road
Oaks
11/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Hampton Inn & Suites, 100 Cresson Blvd.
Pottstown
11/6/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Comfort Inn, 99 Robinson St.
Rockledge
11/13/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Holy Nativity Church, 205 Huntingdon Pike
Sumneytown
11/7/2017: 2p.m. - 7 p.m.: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3104 Main St.
Worcester
11/1/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Techni-Tool, 1547 N. Trooper Road
Wynnewood
11/6/2017: 10:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m.: St. Charles Seminary, 100 E. Wynnewood Road 11/10/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Friends’ Central School, 1101 City Ave.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or mobile device. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/ RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
Volunteers needed
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, contact contact Nancy Tobin at 215451-4229 or nancy.tobin@redcross.org or visit rdcrss.org/ driver.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a notfor-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross. org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.