Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
The American Red Cross and WRGB CBS 6 News invite residents of Albany and surrounding communities to come to the Holiday Heroes blood drive on Monday, December 12 from noon to 6 p.m. at one of the following locations:
Proctor’s Theatre
432 State St., Schenectady
Saratoga Knights of Columbus
50 Pine Rd, Saratoga Springs
Guilderland Fire Department
2303 Western Ave, Guilderland
Presenting donors will receive an American Red Cross fleece hat.
To make an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or use the Blood Donor App. Use sponsor code CBS6
The Red Cross urges eligible donors to give the perfect gift by giving blood or platelets this holiday season. Blood and platelets donations decline during the holiday season, but the Red Cross must still collect about 14,000 pints of blood every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. In the Red Cross New York-Penn Blood Services Region, approximately 1000 units of blood are needed every day to support the needs of patients in 90 hospitals throughout New York and 10 counties in Pennsylvania.
“Busy holiday schedules and travel plans make it more challenging for regular donors to give, but taking one hour of time to donate blood this holiday season gives a patient the perfect gift- the gift of life,” said Red Cross New York-Penn Region Donor Recruitment District Manager Sonja Ronovech. “We thank WRGB CBS News 6 for helping us educate our community about the constant need for blood donations. We hope donors can make time to roll up their sleeves and donate to ensure we have enough blood for patients in need.”
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood and platelets are needed for many different reasons. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood.
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 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.
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