FULTON, Mo. (July 22, 2020) — The American Red Cross is teaming up with family and friends of Braeden Sconce to host a blood drive in his memory July 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Callaway Electric Cooperative, 1313 Cooperative Dr., in Fulton.
On February 4, 2018, Braeden was on his way to his parent’s house to watch his beloved Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. His car spun out on ice, crashed and caught fire. After receiving 22 units of red blood cells, plus platelets, Braeden was airlifted for surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He eventually passed away from brain injuries on Feb 27. The blood and platelet donations helped give Braeden’s family more time with him and time to preserve his organs for donation. Braeden’s mother Shelly talked about how grateful her family was for the extra time with her son.
“Hospital workers were able to get the bleeding under control thanks to blood donors,” said Shelly, Braeden’s mother. “Braeden loved to give blood, and he has inspired us to become more active in donating and encouraging others to give.”
Shelly and her husband Wes have organized two previous blood drives in Central Missouri, collecting nearly 101 blood donations.
This drive comes as the Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and encourages healthy individuals to schedule and keep blood donation appointments in the weeks ahead to ensure a stable supply for patients throughout this coronavirus pandemic. All donors are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to protect the health of all those in attendance.
It’s important to remember that red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days of donation and platelets within just five days. So, they must constantly be replenished. There is no known end date in this fight against coronavirus, and the Red Cross urgently needs the help of donors and blood drive hosts to ensure blood products are readily available for patients.
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 nearly 13,000 blood and more than 2,600 platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide.
Blood donors of all types are needed. There is no substitute for donated blood products.
Those with types O, A negative and B negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation at this blood drive. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, schedule online, call 1-800-RED CROSS or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% 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.