Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
GRANVILLE, Ohio (June 6, 2019) — The community is invited to give blood in honor of Capt. Nicholas Vogt at a special American Red Cross blood drive held in his name Thursday, June 20, from 3 - 9 p.m. at St. Edward’s Catholic Church Hall in Granville, sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 10876.
A native of Crestline in northwest Ohio, Vogt, was an aspiring Army trauma surgeon who graduated West Point in 2010. He served in Afghanistan with the 1st Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Just two months into his service, in November 2011, he was severely injured when he stepped on an improvised explosive device that was buried in the soil. His injuries led to both legs being amputated and he received approximately 500 blood transfusions during treatments. He used the entire supply of blood available at the local hospital in Afghanistan, so more than 300 troops rallied to donate blood to assist him.
Vogt was eventually transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland where he underwent another 30 surgeries. His heart stopped twice as he battled infections and a brain aneurysm. After a long recovery, today Vogt is doing well, living in Shelby, Ohio with his wife and two small children.
Friends and family of Vogt are thankful to blood donors. “It took so many blood donors to help save Nick’s life,” said Donald DeSapri, Vogt’s fellow graduate from the United States Military Academy and member of the Knights of Columbus Council 10876. “We want more people to realize how important every blood donation is, and we invite the community to give blood in honor of our fellow veteran, Captain Vogt, to help others.”
“There are so many reasons why someone may need blood that we don’t even realize,” said Justin Lynn, donor recruitment account manager for the Red Cross. “We take for granted that blood will be there at the hospital when we need it, but it can only come from generous volunteer donors. Giving blood in Captain Vogt’s name is a wonderful way to honor him and potentially help others.”
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. Despite blood’s lifesaving role, only 3 out of 100 people in the U.S. give blood each year. The goal of Missing Types is to inspire new and current blood donors to give this summer and help fill the missing types.
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 2,500 hospitals nationwide, including 41 hospitals in Central Ohio.
Donate Blood in honor of Cpt. Nicholas Vogt
Thursday, June 20, 2019
3 - 9 p.m.
St. Edward’s Catholic Church Hall
785 Newark-Granville Rd., Granville, OH 43023
All those who come to donate May 1 to August 31 in the Central Ohio Region will receive a coupon for buy one get one free entry to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and be entered into a weekly drawing for four tickets to Zoombezi Bay through July 31.
How to donate blood
Simply download the 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.