Ellie Miller sees the effect of blood donation firsthand. As a radiologic technologist, patient care is her favorite part of her job. To honor her patients and others in need of blood transfusions, she forgoes a party and presents on her birthday and instead throws an American Red Cross blood drive and invites everyone to donate.
“A blood drive is a way for me to give back in honor of all the trauma and cancer patients I’ve worked with throughout the years,” Miller said. “I am so grateful for what I already have; I don’t need anything else to be happy. So I thought it would be meaningful to provide family and friends a way to give back to those in need instead of giving a traditional gift.”
Ellie Miller’s birthday blood drive
Saturday, May 13
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
American Red Cross Ft. Kearney Chapter
520 W. 48th Ave.
Donors of all blood types are needed in May, which is National Trauma Awareness Month. Trauma accounts for millions of emergency room visits every year in the U.S. A single car accident victim can need as many as 100 units of blood. The Red Cross urges eligible donors to help ensure lifesaving blood is available for patients with traumatic injuries and other serious medical needs by donating blood.
How to donate blood
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.
