A partnership that inspires hundreds of people to give blood in support of patients in need is now in its 14th year. The annual NTV Blood Drive with the American Red Cross returns to Grand Island, Kearney and Hastings Monday, May 1.
Every May since 2004, donors have rolled up a sleeve in support of the NTV Blood Drive, adding up to a 13-year total of almost 1,900 pints of blood collected. This year, the Red Cross and NTV hope to collect more than 200 pints of blood to help those depending on potentially lifesaving blood transfusions.
“The Red Cross needs to collect about 500 blood donations throughout Nebraska every day,” said Nicole Johnk, Red Cross Donor Recruitment manager. “We absolutely could not meet the needs of patients without the help of community partners like NTV and our dedicated donors.”
14th annual NTV Blood Drive
Monday, May 1
noon to 6 p.m.
YWCA at 211 E. Fonner Park Road in Grand Island
Evangelical Free Church at 2015 N. St. Joseph Ave. in Hastings
Evangelical Free Church at 4010 7th Ave. in Kearney
To schedule an appointment to donate at the NTV Blood Drive, use the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and use the sponsor code NTV. Everyone who comes out to give blood will receive a free Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last.
Donors of all blood types are needed this month, which is also 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.
