The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to become hometown heroes and answer the call of patients in need by donating blood during the annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drives on Wednesday. The Red Cross also has a free Blood Donor App where people can schedule an appointment, access their digital donor card and receive notifications when their donation is given to a hospital.
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Overall blood donations in the Red Cross Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Region have been approximately 1,810 fewer per month in June and July this year than the previous 10 months of the year. Types B negative and A negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.
The American Red Cross is facing a looming shortage of the blood types most needed by patients.
“We welcome any blood types at this point and you don’t need to know your blood type to come and donate and help save a life”, Noble said. Platelets are a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer and surgical patients as well as bone marrow recipients. Spokesperson Angie Bermudez says they are also asking for double red cell donations.
8/22/2015: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Bethany Fellowship School, 600E 5169N in Kokomo.
8/15/2015: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Indiana National Guard, 1220 W Madison St.in Plymouth.
8/28/2015: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace College Gordon Rec Center, 100 Publishers Dr.in Winona Lake.
8/12/2015: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Williamson County Public Library, 1314 Columbia Ave.
8/6/2015: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 613 South Main St.
Macomb – 8 a.m.to 1:45 p.m., St. Isidore Catholic Church, 18201 23 Mile Rd.
Troy – 9 a.m.to 2:45 p.m., Bharatiya Temple, 6850 North Adams Rd.
8/5/2015: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Webb’s Family Pharmacy, 724 Main St.in Rochester.
According to the Red Cross, African-American blood donation is vital because blood types O and B, the blood types of about 70 percent of African-Americans, are the blood types most in demand. Type AB blood can be used for its universal plasma type.
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To make an appointment to give blood, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.
