The community is invited to “Be Instrumental in Helping Save Lives” at an American Red Cross blood drive cosponsored by the Symphony of Chesterton, Gary SouthShore RailCats and RCS Home Healthcare, Thursday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Symphony. Those who come to donate will receive two flex tickets to a RailCats baseball game, while supplies last.
Donna Brandy of RCS Home Healthcare, who is helping coordinate the event, understands the need for blood personally. “It’s important to help our community and giving blood is an easy way to support patients,” she said. “I had a blood transfusion after an accident so I know how important it is to give.”
This blood drive comes at an important time of year. Blood and platelet donations often decline during the summer months when busy summer schedules and vacation plans can cause some donors to be less available to give. Additionally, blood donations at high school and college blood drives, which account for as much as 20 percent of blood donations during the school year, decline when many schools are out of session. But, the need for blood remains constant all summer long.
“Blood is used every day of the year to help hospital patients in need,” said Trish Cochran, account manager for the Red Cross. “Especially during the summer months, when donations often decline, each donor can be instrumental in helping patients here in our community and across the country. If you have never given blood before, now is a great time to start.”
Every two seconds in the United States blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
“Be Instrumental in Helping Save Lives” Blood Drive
Thursday, June 1, 2017
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Symphony of Chesterton
2775 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit
redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. 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 donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit
redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
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.
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