Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
The summer is a time when blood donations decline, but donors in the Midlands can hit a home run for life when they give blood this summer. The American Red Cross is partnering with WIS for its annual blood drive on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to give donors an opportunity to help save lives during a critical time of year.
With schools out and families on vacation, donors may be less apt to give blood. But patients don’t get a summer break from needing blood. Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are 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 approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.
By making a commitment to give blood, donors can make a lifesaving difference for patients this summer. Potentially lifesaving blood products can only come from volunteer blood donors.
Donors can give blood at various locations in Columbia, Lexington and Sumter on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. All presenting blood donors will receive a free T-shirt, while supplies last. One presenting donor at each location will win tickets for four to an upcoming Columbia Fireflies game, and one VIP winner will throw the first pitch.
Locations are:
Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge
300 Palmetto Health Parkway Dr., Columbia, SC 29212
Lexington Urgent Care
811 West Main St., Lexington SC 29072
Spring Valley Presbyterian Church
125 Sparkleberry Ln., Columbia, SC 29223
Columbia Fireflies Spirit Communications Park
1640 Freed St., Columbia SC 29201
USC Arts Building – Banquet Hall
190 Miller Rd., Sumter, SC 29151
To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: WIS, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Walk-ins are welcome.
Items and offers are nontransferable and are not redeemable for cash.
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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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.