Need continues for American Red Cross blood donations

ALBANY — The celebration of Red Cross Month in March, and an emergency need for platelets, is prompting the American Red Cross to continue encouraging eligible donors to join in the organization’s mission to give blood.

Red Cross officials say they depend on blood donors across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals. Donors of all blood types, especially the universal Type O, are needed to help those relying on blood products.

An emergency need for platelet donors also currently exists, according to Red Cross officials. Platelets are typically used for cancer treatments, organ transplants and surgeries. Whole blood, red blood cells, plasma and cryoprecipitated AHF are among the other blood components that go toward additional uses such as treatments for trauma, anemia, burns, blood loss, bleeding disorders and blood disorders.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Southwest Georgia into early March include:

— Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Westover High School, 2600 Partridge Drive, Albany

— Feb. 28, noon-5 p.m., Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Road, Albany

— March 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Terrell Academy, 602 Academy Drive Southeast, Dawson

— March 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, Albany

— March 2, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Nashville United Methodist Church, 304 S. Berrien St., Nashville

— March 2, 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Adel United Methodist Church, 214 S. Hutchinson Ave., Adel

— March 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Albany Technical College, Building C, 1704 S. Slappey Blvd., Albany

— March 8, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Albany State University HPER Building, Albany

The Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region, which includes Georgia and parts of Florida and South Carolina, serves about 100 hospitals.

An estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, but less than 10 percent of that population gives each year. Eighty percent of the blood donations given to the Red Cross are collected at mobile drives set up at community venues, with the remaining 20 percent collected at donation centers.

Potential donors can 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 on how to give. 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, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. The entire donation process, during which roughly one pint is taken, lasts about 75 minutes, including registration and a mini-physical.

Blood donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete pre-donation readings and health history questionnaires online prior to arriving at a blood drive. It is accessible at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.