Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (June 19, 2018) – The community is invited to hit a home run for patients by giving blood at the Indianapolis Indians American Red Cross Blood Drive Thursday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Victory Field.
Those who come to give blood at this event will receive a free box seat ticket to a future Indians baseball game, and can enjoy guest appearances from Indians mascot Rowdie, as well as Red Cross mascot Buddy the Blood Drop. The Indians and the Red Cross hope to collect 50 blood donations to support hospital patients, including 80 hospitals in Indiana.
The Indians Red Cross Blood Drive comes at a critical time for the Red Cross, when blood donations often decline during the busy summer months. While the need for blood is constant, the Red Cross experiences a decline in new donors during this time.
“Hospital patients don’t get a summer holiday or vacation from needing lifesaving blood,” said Meg Ahlering, development manager for the Red Cross. “That’s why summer blood donations are vitally important. We have to make sure blood doesn’t go missing from hospital shelves.”
With high schools and colleges in recess and many donors taking time off for vacation, the summer months can be among the most challenging times of the year for the Red Cross to recruit blood donors.
This blood drive comes as the Red Cross is urging individuals to help ensure blood is never missing from hospital shelves by donating blood through the Missing Types campaign. The goal of Missing Types is to inspire new blood donors and those who haven’t given in a while to give this summer and become a regular blood donor for patients in need in the years to come. For the past four years, new Red Cross blood donors have declined by about 80,000 each year. More blood donors are needed now to fill the gaps.
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 more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
Indianapolis Indians Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis, IN 57225
To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and use sponsor code: indyindians.
Everyone who comes to donate now through September 3 can receive an exclusive Cedar Fair ticket offer that helps support the Red Cross. Blood drive participants can go to RedCrossBlood.org/CedarFair to purchase discounted tickets for gate admission. For each ticket purchased through the website, Cedar Fair will donate $2 to the Red Cross to support its humanitarian mission. Terms and conditions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/CedarFair.
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 and platelet donors can 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, from a computer or mobile device. 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.