Be a holiday hero – give the gift of life
Red Cross urgently needs blood donations
(Dec. 17, 2018) — Emergencies don’t take a holiday. The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to make an appointment now to give and help ensure patients can get the treatment they need at a moment’s notice.
In November 2016, a 100-foot maple tree fell on Mike McMahon, causing life-threatening injuries. He needed 11 units of blood during emergency surgery and another seven units to treat complications after. Six weeks following the accident, McMahon was released from the hospital – just in time to spend the holidays with his family.
“I’m grateful for the donors who gave me such an amazing gift – the gift of life,” said McMahon. “I was an occasional blood donor before the accident. Today, I donate as often as I can to help ensure others receive blood when they need it most.”
Now is an important time to give blood. A seasonal decline in donations occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. In addition, severe winter weather can cause blood drive cancellations and negatively affect the blood supply. Patients like McMahon can’t afford for there to be a shortage of blood.
Give the gift of life – make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a special thank-you for helping meet the urgent need, those who come to give Dec. 20 through Jan. 6 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 20-Jan. 15
GA
Chatham
Savannah
12/20/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Savannah Harley Davidson, 1 Fort Argyle Road
12/20/2018: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
Pooler
12/21/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tanger Outlets, 200 Tanger Outlet Boulevard
Savannah
12/21/2018: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
12/21/2018: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Memorial Health University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Avenue
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Liberty
Fort Stewart
12/21/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Newman Gym, 439 Bundy Ave
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Chatham
Pooler
12/22/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tanger Outlets, 200 Tanger Outlet Boulevard
Savannah
12/22/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
12/23/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bryan
Richmond Hill
12/24/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fire Department, 9930 Ford Ave., P.O. Box 836
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Chatham
Pooler
12/24/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tanger Outlets, 200 Tanger Outlet Boulevard
Savannah
12/24/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
Port Wentworth
12/26/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., First Baptist Church of Port Wentworth, 402 Pinehurst Pl
Savannah
12/26/2018: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bryan
Pembroke
12/27/2018: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Pembroke United Methodist Church, 102 North College Street
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Chatham
Pooler
12/27/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, 130 Canal Street
Savannah
12/27/2018: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Liberty
Hinesville
12/27/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Hinesville Public Library, 236 West Memorial Drive
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Bulloch
Statesboro
12/28/2018: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Honey Bowen Building, Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Rec, 1 Max Lockwood Dr
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Chatham
Savannah
12/28/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., CrossFit SteadFast, 514 Berrien St.
12/28/2018: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
12/29/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
12/30/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bulloch
Statesboro
12/31/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Walmart Supercenter 754, 730 Northside Drive East
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Chatham
Savannah
12/31/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/1/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/2/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Liberty
Hinesville
1/2/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hinesville Masonic Lodge 271 & VA Clinic, 500 E Oglethorpe Hwy
1/2/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Liberty Regional Medical Center, 462 E.G. Miles Parkway
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Bulloch
Statesboro
1/3/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., East Georgia Regional Medical Center, 1499 Fair Road
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Chatham
Savannah
1/3/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/4/2019: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/4/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Nine Line Apparel, 450 Fort Argyle Road
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Liberty
Hinesville
1/4/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Liberty County YMCA, 201 Mary Lou Drive
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Bryan
Richmond Hill
1/5/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 40 White Oak Lane
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Chatham
Savannah
1/5/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/6/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/7/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Toombs
Vidalia
1/7/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Vidalia Community Center, 107 Old Airport Road
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Wayne
Jesup
1/7/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Jesup Health and Rehab, 3100 Savannah Highway
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Chatham
Savannah
1/8/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Montgomery
Ailey
1/8/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Higgston Baptist Church, 512 James St
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Wayne
Jesup
1/8/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Community Health Systems, 248 NE Broad Street
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Bryan
Richmond Hill
1/9/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Richmond Hill United Methodist Church, 9050 Ford Avenue
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Chatham
Savannah
1/9/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/10/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Emanuel
Swainsboro
1/10/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 240 West Main Street
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Bulloch
Statesboro
1/11/2019: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Honey Bowen Building, Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Rec, 1 Max Lockwood Dr
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Chatham
Savannah
1/11/2019: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/12/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/13/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/14/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
1/14/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Texas Roadhouse Savannah, 14045 Abercorn Street
1/14/2019: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Memorial Health University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Avenue
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Effingham
Rincon
1/14/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Rincon, Kidz Building, 400 N Columbia Avenue
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Chatham
Savannah
1/15/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Delta Air Lines, 400 Airways Ave.
1/15/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Jeff Davis
Hazlehurst
1/15/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., FBCH School Building, FBCH School Building, 1st East Avenue
How to donate blood
Simply 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. 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.
Volunteers needed
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position visit rdcrss.org/driver.
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.