For many people, summertime signals a long break from school and fun in the sun. But for the Red Cross, summer represents a critical challenge: keeping blood donations strong to meet patient demand. That’s why WMBF News has teamed with the Red Cross on a summer blood drive Aug. 3 in Florence and Myrtle Beach.
In the summer months, when schools are out and many go on vacation, blood donations can decline. 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.
The WMBF summer blood drive is Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. inside Myrtle Beach’s Coastal Grand Mall – HealthFinders, 2000 Coastal Grand Circle, and Florence’s Magnolia Mall, 2701 David McLeod Blvd.
Each pint donated can help save up to three lives. Blood can only come from volunteer donors – there is no substitute.
To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: WMBF.
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.