All eligible donors are invited to Rise Up and give blood at the seventh annual Atlanta Falcons blood drive with the American Red Cross. The drive will be held on Monday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
This blood drive comes during the difficult summer months, a time when many regular donors postpone giving blood due to vacation plans and summer activities. Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.
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.
“Patients rely on the generosity of volunteer donors to help ensure a stable blood supply,” said Mario Sedlock, director of donor recruitment for the Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region. “We thank the Falcons for providing this opportunity for the community to help those in need.”
Those who come to give blood will receive:
· Two tickets to the Falcons Thursday, Aug. 11 pre-season game against the Washington Redskins, while supplies last.
· A chance to win two regular season game tickets, autographed Falcons memorabilia or a Taco Mac gift card.
*Parking will be validated in the gold parking deck off Northside Drive the day of the blood drive.
To make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code FALCONS or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Eligible donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are encouraged to donate double red cells.
How to donate blood
For more information and to make an appointment to donate, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors of all blood types are needed. 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.