Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
MONTGOMERY, Al. — This holiday season, the American Red Cross and Alabama News Network encourage individuals to give something that means something – a blood donation. This simple, potentially lifesaving act can give patients in need another holiday season with family and friends.
The Montgomery Holiday Hero Blood Drive will be held Friday, Dec. 27 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Eastdale Mall, 1000 Eastdale Mall in Montgomery. All presenting donors will receive a Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
“The holidays are a busy time when many activities pull people away from making an appointment to donate blood. Blood transfusion is the fourth most common inpatient hospital procedure in the U.S. Yet, only 3 out of 100 people in the U.S. give blood,” said Ronnika A. McFall, external communications manager of the Red Cross Alabama-Mississippi Blood Services Region. “This creates a greater need for donations during the winter months. We thank Alabama News Network and the Montgomery community for joining the Red Cross on this lifesaving mission.”
Giving blood is an easy way to impact someone’s life while impacting the community. Just one blood donation can help save up to three lives. Blood is needed every day for patients with many serious medical conditions. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may need blood products.
Donors of all blood types are encouraged to make an appointment. Eligible donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are urged to make a Power Red donation. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. During this type of donation, red blood cells are separated from other blood components, and the plasma and platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor.
How to donate blood
Simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org sponsor code holiday or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device 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 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 RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
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.