Give Blood and Enjoy Blowfish Baseball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jamie Muldrow, 803-251-6034, muldrowjb@usa.redcross.org

Give Blood and Enjoy Blowfish Baseball

COLUMBIA, S.C.– The American Red Cross has something special for baseball lovers this week. The Red Cross, in partnership with the Columbia Blowfish, is offering game tickets for this Friday’s game against the Fayetteville Swampdogs to blood and platelet donors who present to give blood through Friday, July 2 at the Columbia Donation Center, 2751 Bull St.

During the busy summer season, blood donations often decline due to vacation and summer activities, while the need for blood remains constant. While all blood types are welcome, there is a constant need for type O negative blood. Type O negative blood can be safely transfused to patients of all blood types. In trauma situations where there is no time to cross match blood, type O negative is used.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to 54 hospitals and must have 500 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood or platelets, call 1-800-RED CROSS or log on to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: musicsaveslivessc.

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