Red Cross: Blood, platelet donations needed in wake of Hurricane Florence

Press release from the American Red Cross:

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2018) — As the American Red Cross responds to Hurricane Florence, providing food, shelter and comfort to those affected, blood and platelet donors are urged to give when it’s safe to travel to care for patients in the storm’s path and across the country. People can also help by making a financial donation to support relief efforts.

Hurricane’s impact on blood and platelet donations

Hurricane Florence’s wrath left catastrophic damage behind and also took a toll on blood and platelet donations. Nearly 200 Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast were forced to cancel, resulting in more than 5,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In North Carolina, 57 blood drives were called off due to the storm, causing nearly 2,100 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

“Natural disasters like hurricanes can disrupt blood drives and prevent donors from giving, but hospital patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “There is an especially critical need for platelets to help cancer patients and type O blood donations for ongoing patient care and emergencies. Every donation can be a lifeline for patients.”

How to help

As conditions improve, donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and replenish the blood supply. Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Financial donations are also needed and allow the Red Cross to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Up-to-date information about how the Red Cross is responding to Hurricane Florence is available at RedCross.org.

 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities, Sept. 20-Oct. 15

Buncombe

Asheville

9/20/2018: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Asheville Fire & Police Department, 100 Court Plaza, PO Box 7148

9/21/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/22/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/23/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/23/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Woodfin Volunteer Fire Department, 20 New Street

9/24/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/25/2018: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/26/2018: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/27/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., The Van Winkle Law Firm, 11 N. Market Street

9/28/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/28/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road

9/29/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

9/30/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/1/2018: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., WCU ABSN Chapter of Association of Nursing Students, 28 Schenck Parkway, Suite 300

10/1/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/2/2018: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/3/2018: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/5/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/5/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Ingles of Reynolds, 225 Charlotte Hwy

10/5/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Johnston Elementary School, 230 Johnston Boulevard

10/6/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/7/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/7/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ingles Markets, 863 Brevard Rd

10/8/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/8/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Road

10/9/2018: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/10/2018: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/12/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/13/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/14/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

10/14/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., St. Eugenes Catholic Church, 72 Culvern Street

10/15/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road

Barnardsville

10/11/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Barnardsville Elementary School, 20 Hillcrest Drive

Black Mountain

9/28/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Black Mountain Fire Department, 106 Montreat Rd

10/4/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, 117 Montreat Road

Fairview

10/4/2018: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Spring Mountain Community Club, 807 Old Fort Road

Leicester

10/8/2018: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Newfound Baptist Church, 2605 New Leicester Highway

Weaverville

10/4/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Brookstone Church Weaverville, 90 Griffee Rd.

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Cherokee

Murphy

10/8/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Mountains, 68 Fairfax Lane

10/9/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church, 1650 North Carolina 141

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Clay

Hayesville

9/21/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Hayesville Presbyterian Church, 73 Hiawassee St.

10/13/2018: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Free Will Baptist Church, First Free Will Baptist, 259 Tusquittee Street

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Haywood

Canton

10/11/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Town of Canton Armory, 71 Penland St

Clyde

9/27/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Haywood Regional Medical Center Health & Fitness Center-Classrooms, 75 Leroy George Road

Hazelwood

10/9/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hazelwood Elementary School, 1111 Plott Creek Road

Waynesville

9/24/2018: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Ratcliffe Cove Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1300 Ratcliff Cove Road

10/15/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Masonic Lodge Waynesville, 435 East Marshall Street

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Henderson

Etowah

9/29/2018: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Etowah Lions Club, 447 Etowah School Road

10/11/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., The Promise Center, 6508 Brevard Rd.

Hendersonville

9/22/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Egolf of Hendersonville, 1325 Spartenburg Hwy

10/15/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., YMCA Hendersonville, 810 6th Ave. W.

10/15/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Henderson County Offices, 211 1st Avenue East

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Jackson

Cullowhee

10/1/2018: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Western Carolina University Hinds Univ Center, Highway 107

10/2/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Western Carolina University Hinds Univ Center, Highway 107

Sylva

9/21/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lowe’s 2257 Sylva, 1716 North Main Street

9/21/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 77 Jackson St

10/5/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Jackson County Department on Aging, 100 County Services Park

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Macon

Franklin

9/20/2018: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., First Baptist Church Franklin, 69 Iotla Street

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McDowell

Marion

9/30/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Concord United Methodist Church, 8066 Old Linville Road

10/6/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lowe’s 1922 Marion, 480 US Hwy 70

10/9/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., State Employee Credit Union, 1004 W Tate Street

10/10/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Marion Community Building, 99 North Main Street

Nebo

10/4/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Nebo Elementary School, 254 Nebo School Rd

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Mitchell

Spruce Pine

10/15/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine, 125 Tappan Street

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Polk

Columbus

9/27/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Womack Building, 40 Courthouse Square

Saluda

9/27/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Saluda, 213 Henderson St,

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Rutherford

Forest City

9/27/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 250 Hudlow Rd

Spindale

9/20/2018: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Spindale House, 119 Tanner St

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Transylvania

Brevard

10/9/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Brevard Community Church, 417 Morris Road

How to donate blood

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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

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 CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.