As the busy Fourth of July holiday week grows closer, the American Red Cross asks donors to celebrate by making a blood or platelet donation appointment to help power the blood supply through mid-summer.
Although all blood types are needed, donors with type O blood are most urgently needed, according to a news release.
Making and keeping donation appointments now is critical to ensuring blood products are available for all patients — including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions — in the weeks to come.
Type O negative blood is often reached for in emergencies when there isn’t time to match a patient’s blood type. Type O positive is the most common blood type, so it’s important to keep type O blood and all blood types on hand at hospitals for people facing both chronic illness and sudden, life-threatening conditions.
The Red Cross and goodr are joining forces in July to remind donors they’re just the type patients can count on. All who come to give July 1 to 14 will get a pair of Red Cross x goodr sunglasses, while supplies last. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/goodr.
Or those who make it in to give by June 30 will get a $15 Amazon.com gift card by email, plus be automatically entered to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/June.
Blood donation opportunities in the area June 24 to July 14
Benton County
Fowler: July 2, noon to 5 p.m., Fowler United Methodist Church, 908 E. 12th St.
Carroll County
Flora: June 26, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Carroll County Community Center, 908 E. Columbia St.
Clinton County
Frankfort: June 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wesley Manor Retirement Community, 1555 N. Main St.; and June 27, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., IU Health Frankfort, 1204 S. Jackson St.
Montgomery County
Darlington: July 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., American Legion Post 302, 201 W. South St.
Tippecanoe County
Lafayette: July 1, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Pride Lafayette, Inc., 640 Main St.; July 2, noon to 6 p.m., Crestview Community Church, 1400 Ortman Lane; and July 11, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Northend Community Center, 2000 Elmwood Ave.
West Lafayette: June 24, 1 to 6 p.m., Faith West, 1920 Northwestern Ave.; June 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas, 535 W. State St.; and July 9, 2 to 6 p.m., Calvary Church, 310 Kalberer Road
White County
Brookston: July 2, 1 to 6 p.m., American Legion Brookston, 304 Indiana 43
Monticello: June 27, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monticello Fire Department, 911 W. South St.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.
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.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Red Cross: Please donate blood to help with summer needs, especially if you’re type O
Reporting by Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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