Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (February 12, 2019) — The American Red Cross is once again teaming up with the family of Ashley Mayer to host a blood drive in her honor Saturday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Adair County Annex, 300 N. Franklin, in Kirksville.
In February 2010, Ashley, who has Down Syndrome, was diagnosed with Leukemia. As Ashley battled the disease, she needed many blood transfusions and at times had to wait for the blood products to be flown to the hospital. Ashley’s mother Carla is encouraging the community to donate blood at this drive in Ashley’s honor to help others in need. In the past eight years, over 400 blood donations have been collected in Ashely’s honor.
“As a parent you never want to have treatment delayed for your child,” said Carla. “Watching Ashley and other children in life threatening danger was unbearable. “There is no reason anyone should have to wait for precious blood with so many of us that are eligible to donate on a regular basis. Please stand up and make a difference in someone’s life today.”
This blood drive will help the blood supply recover from a donation shortfall over the winter holidays that prompted the Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood donors to give now. Donors of all blood types, especially type O blood donors, are needed to prevent a blood shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care.
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 more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
How to donate blood
For more information or to make an appointment, simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 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 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, from a computer or mobile device. 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.