WPDE NEWS CHANNEL 15 BLOOD DRIVE

WPDE NEWS CHANNEL 15 BLOOD DRIVE

TV station encourages audience to help with summer blood donations

During the busy summer season, blood donations often decline due to vacation and summer activities, while the need for blood remains constant. To recruit blood donors and help maintain an adequate blood supply, WPDE is teaming up with the American Red Cross for a blood drive Wednesday, July 28 from 11 am-7 pm at the following locations:
 

All presenting donors will receive an American Red Cross T-shirt and may enter a drawing for the chance to win a $1,000 gift card through the Red Cross “Give Blood & See America” promotion!

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code WPDE. 

During the summer months, the blood supply often suffers. With donors on vacation and preoccupied with other summer activities, collections tend to take a dip. 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.

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