From American Red Cross:
Buncombe County — As severe winter weather begins to subside, the American Red Cross is asking all eligible blood and platelet donors to help offset a weather-related shortfall in donations.
Approximately 280 blood drives across 25 states were canceled across the U.S. due to snow and extreme cold. The blood drive cancellations resulted in a shortfall of nearly 8, 400 blood and platelet donations since Jan. 2. In North Carolina, severe winter weather forced the cancellation of six Red Cross blood drives, resulting in about 200 fewer than expected blood and platelet donations over the past three days.
“It’s the blood products already on the shelves that help save lives when severe weather hits,” said Steve Maness, Vice President of the Red Cross Southeast Blood Services Division. “Thanks to generous Red Cross blood and platelet donors, blood products were available for patients who still needed transfusions despite the weather. Now we invite those previously ‘frozen out’ from giving blood or platelets to come in soon.”
Platelet donors, as well as blood donors with the most in-demand blood types — O positive and negative, A negative and B negative — are urgently needed to give blood in the days and weeks ahead to offset the shortfall.
Platelets, a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, must be transfused within five days of donation, so donations are constantly needed. Red blood cells, the oxygen carrying component of blood, are the most widely transfused blood product and must be transfused within 42 days.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
ASHEVILLE BLOOD DONOR CENTER
100 Edgewood Road, Asheville
Please call 1-800-REDCROSS to schedule an appointment.Every Monday 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Every Tuesday 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Every Wednesday 7:30 am to 12:30 pm
Receive a $10 Neo Burrito Gift Certificate!
Every Thursday 2:00 pm to 7:00 pmCommunity Blood Drives
Friday, January 10
Genova Diagnostics Blood Drive
84 Peachtree Drive Suite 200, Asheville
12:00 pm to 4:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Tonya Wilson at 210-7417.Saturday, January 11
Kayla Metcalf BloodStock Blood Drive at the Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church
339 Flint Hill Road, Alexander
9:00 am to 1:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Kayla Metcalf at 777-0608.
Tuesday, January 14
Skyland United Methodist Church Blood Drive
1984 Hendersonville Road, Asheville
2:30 pm to 7:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the Church office at 684-7283.Tuesday, January 14
Lenoir-Rhyne University and Asheville Chamber of Commerce Blood Drive
36 Montford Avenue, Asheville
1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Catherine Brown at 407-4278.
All presenting donors will receive an American Red Cross T-shirt!Friday, January 17
Genova Diagnostics Blood Drive
63 Zillicoa Street, Asheville
12:00 pm to 4:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Tonya Wilson at 210-7417.Friday, January 17
Black Mountain Fire Department Blood Drive
106 Montreat Road, Black Mountain
10:30 am to 4:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor CodeBlackMountainFire.
Sunday, January 19
Arden Community Health Fair Blood Drive at the Arden Seventh Day Adventist Church
35 Airport Road, Arden
12:30 pm to 5:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Sharon Brown at 684-4525.Monday, January 20
Arden Community Health Fair Blood Drive at the Arden Seventh Day Adventist Church
35 Airport Road, Arden
8:00 am to 12:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Sharon Brown at 684-4525.Saturday, January 25
Skyland First Baptist Church Blood Drive
2115 Hendersonville Road, Arden
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the church at 684-7214.Sunday, January 26
Weaverville United Methodist Church Blood Drive
85 North Main Street, Weaverville
12:00 pm to 4:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Rob Kraft at 656-2161.Monday, January 27
Candler Elementary School Blood Drive
121 Candler School Road, Candler
12:00 pm to 4:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the School office at 670-5018.
Each student who recruits a donor will receive a gift from the American Red Cross!Tuesday, January 28
Beverly Hills Baptist Church Blood Drive
777 Tunnel Road, Asheville
2:30 pm to 7:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Betty Fox at 299-9233.Friday, January 31
Reuter Family YMCA Blood Drive
3 Town Square Boulevard, Asheville
7:30 am to12:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code missionasheville.How to donate blood
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org 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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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.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 not-for-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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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