Specifically, there is an acute shortage of O and B negative blood types. The regional blood banks, represented by the American Red Cross, American Association of Blood Banks, and America�s Blood Centers, are asking for immediate blood donations to boost already critically low blood supplies.  Patients’ need for blood is ongoing. Every day, accident victims as well as patients with cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell disease and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions.Â
Eligible donors are asked to schedule appointments to donate blood now – and on a regular basis. To donate blood, one must be healthy, at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, and meet other donor requirements. Those interested in donating blood are urged to contact the Henderson County American Red Cross at 828-693-5605 for locations, dates and times of scheduled blood drives within the county.
Regular donation is the key to ensuring that blood is available in time of need. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion and donors, people like you, help save lives everyday! As the nation’s largest supplier of blood, plasma and platelets, the Red Cross saves and enhances thousands of lives every day. The Red Cross provides our area hospitals (Park Ridge Hospital, Pardee Hospital, and Mission/St. Joseph’s Hospitals) with 100% of their blood needs. Those needs result in an annual Henderson County collection goal of over 5,000 units of blood (5,220 successful donations). Did you know that only 5% of the medically-eligible population actually donates blood? Your donation is critical and can potentially save up to three lives!
Please call the Henderson County Chapter of the American Red Cross at 828-693-5605, to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome and the best hours for them are between 9:00 am and 11:30 am and from 1:30 pm until 4:30 pm.
The local chapter of the American Red Cross is located at 203 Second Avenue East in Hendersonville, N. C. 28792. The Red Cross requests that you call their office at 828-693-5605 to find out where the blood mobile will be collecting donations. Please take the time to make an appointment for a blood donation, and give the gift of life. You can make a big difference in someone’s life. For more information, visit http://www.hcredcross.org/ .
BLOOD LEVELS are currently at EMERGENCY STATUS. Â
If you have never made a blood donation, then this may be the opportunity for you to do so. It is a very simple procedure, and the gift that you give is, truly, a “Gift of Life.”
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