Inclement weather compounds need for blood; drives planned in southwest Georgia

ALBANY — Spring has officially arrived, but officials with the American Red Cross said the blood supply is still recovering from severe winter storms earlier this month — which means donors of all blood types are being urged to roll up a sleeve and help save lives.

Winter weather in parts of the country forced the cancellation of more than 270 blood drives, resulting in more than 9,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations in the first two weeks of this month. Officials with the Red Cross said no matter the weather, the need for blood remains to help cancer patients and those undergoing surgeries, trauma procedures as well as people presenting to hospitals with other needs.

Volunteer blood donors from across the country are needed to help ensure blood products are available for patients this spring. Upcoming blood drives in southwest Georgia include:

— Wednesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Cesar Chavez Drive, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton

— March 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Terrell County High School, 201 Greenwave Blvd., Dawson

— March 30, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Pataula Charter Academy, 18637 Hartford Street East, Edison

— April 2, 3-7 p.m., Northside Baptist Church of Tifton, 4605 Murray Ave., Tifton

— April 4, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Southern Regional Technical College Tifton Campus, 52 Tech Drive, Tifton

— April 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., South Georgia Technical College, 402 N. Midway Road, Cordele

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

— April 5, 2-7 p.m., Leesburg United Methodist Church, 117 Starksville Ave. North, Leesburg

— April 6, 2-6 p.m., MBCI, 1601 Rogers Road, Adel

— April 6, 2-6 p.m., Tifton Mall, Find the Hero In You, 458 N. Virginia Ave., Tifton

— April 9, 1-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 402 S. Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald

— April 10, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Cordele Community Clubhouse, 108 15th Ave., Cordele

— April 12, noon-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 400 S. Main St., Moultrie

— April 16, 3-7 p.m., Pearson First Baptist Church, 401 Railroad St., Pearson

— April 16, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Walmart Supercenter, 641 Veterans Parkway, Moultrie

— April 17, noon-6 p.m., Tifton United Methodist Church, 107 W. 12th St., Tifton

— April 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 2-6 p.m., Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, 417 W. Third Ave., Albany

— April 20, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Cook County High School, 9900 Georgia Highway 37, Adel

— April 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Dougherty Comprehensive High School, 1800 Pierce Ave., Albany

— April 20, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Tift Regional Medical Center, 901 E. 18th St., Tifton

— April 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Friendship Baptist Church, 400 Pine Ave., Albany

To donate blood, download the American 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 or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Officials with the Red Cross said 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.

Blood and platelet donors can use RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive by visiting www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass or using the Blood Donor App.

The Red Cross provides support to victims of disasters, supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood, teaches life skills, provides international humanitarian aid and supports military members and their families. The not-for-profit depends on volunteers and donors to perform its mission.

For more information, visit www.redcross.org or www.cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit @RedCross on Twitter.

Jennifer Parks