TULSA, Okla. (June 12, 2018) – Ahead of the long Independence Day holiday, the American Red Cross, FOX23 and KRMG urge area residents to give blood at the annual Red, White and You blood drive, June 28-30, at the Red Cross Tulsa Blood Donation Center and help avoid a blood shortage.
This year’s Red, White and You Blood Drive comes as the Red Cross recently launched the Missing Types campaign with a goal of bringing awareness to the great need for new blood donors in order to reverse a declining donor population. For the past four years, new Red Cross blood donors have declined by about 80,000 each year. This is not just a Red Cross trend, but a challenge blood collection organizations face across the country and around the world.
“We’re grateful to FOX23 and KRMG for helping the Red Cross highlight the need for blood this summer. When not enough people donate blood, hospital shelves may be empty when a critical patient arrives,” said Jan Hale, communications manager of the local Red Cross Blood Services Region. “Imagine if someone you love needed a blood type that was missing from hospital shelves. More blood donors are needed now to fill those gaps.”
Only about 3 percent of the U.S. population gives blood, which means a heavy reliance on repeat donors to maintain a sufficient blood supply. New blood donors are especially needed during the summer months because many schools where blood drives are held – and where new donors give – are not in session, and current donors often delay giving due to summer vacations.
“Without A, B and O, our language suffers greatly, as does those in need of blood,” said Levi May, director of branding and programming, NEWS102.3 and AM740KRMG. “Please help our local community by donating a few pints of your ‘letter’, and fill the void.”
All those coming to donate at the Red, White and You blood drive will receive a Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Red, White and You blood drive
Thursday, June 28- Friday, June 29
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tulsa Blood Donation Center
10151 E. 11th St.
11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Woodland Hills Mall
7021 Memorial Dr.
Make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Donors of all blood types are needed to ensure a sufficient blood supply this summer. By setting aside about one hour of time in advance of the holiday weekend, donors can help make sure blood is available when needed.
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 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.