American Red Cross urges blood donations

ALBANY — Eligible blood donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to give blood through the American Red Cross now to help ensure a sufficient supply for hospital patients this spring.

By giving blood, donors may be helping someone like Emery Twehues, 5, who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia last year. During her cancer treatments, Emery has needed both blood and platelets.

Cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and certain types of chemotherapy drugs and radiation, can damage the bone marrow, where red blood cells and platelets are produced.

“Emery would not be able to recover from chemotherapy without lifesaving transfusions,” Morgan Twehues, Emery’s mother, said. “Every time they hang a bag of platelets or blood up on her IV pole, I wish whoever donated that could see who it’s going to.

“There would be no chance for her to live, taking that chemotherapy, if it weren’t for the blood products.”

In order to meet the needs of patients like Emery, Red Cross officials say they must collect about 13,000 blood and more than 2,500 platelet donations every day.

Upcoming blood donation drives in southwest Georgia through April 19 are:

— Today, noon-6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 107 W. 12th St., Tifton;

— Wednesday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Terrell Academy, 602 Academy Drive, Dawson;

— Thursday, 3-7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 307 Flint Ave., Albany;

— Thursday, 2-7 p.m., Turner County Civic Center, 601 E. Madison St., Ashburn;

— March 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Albany Mall, 2601 Dawson Road, Albany;

— March 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Albany State University Student Center, 504 College Drive, Albany;

— March 28, 2-7 p.m., Byne Memorial Baptist Church, 2832 Ledo Road, Albany;

— March 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Union Missionary Baptist Church, 214 E. Oglethorpe Blvd., Albany;

— March 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Albany Chapter — Dougherty County Health Department, 1710 S. Slappey Blvd., Albany;

— April 1, noon-5 p.m., Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Road, Albany;

— April 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College John Hunt Town Center, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton;

— April 5, 1-5 p.m., Walmart Supercenter 1072, 1830 Highway 82 West, Tifton;

— April 8, 1-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 402 S. Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald;

— April 8, 3-7 p.m., Northside Baptist Church, 4605 Murray Ave., Tifton;

— April 9, 1-6 p.m., Cordele Community Clubhouse, 108 15th Ave., Cordele;

— April 11, noon-6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 409 First St. Southeast, Moultrie;

— April 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Dougherty Comprehensive High School, 1800 Pearce Ave., Albany;

— April 12, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Tift Regional Medical Center, 901 E. 18th St., Tifton;

— April 15, 3-7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 204 Railroad Ave. East, Pearson;

— April 16, noon-6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 107 W. 12th St., Tifton;

— April 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, 417 W. Third Ave., Albany;

— April 18, 2-6 p.m., Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital;

—April 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Cook County High School, 9900 Highway 37, Adel;

Those wishing to donate blood can download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.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, driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

Officials said 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 www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass or use the Blood Donor App.

The 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. It is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and donations from the public. For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit @RedCross on Twitter.