PRESS RELEASE (March 18, 2019) — Eligible blood donors of all blood types — especially type O — are urged to give blood through the American Red Cross now to help ensure a sufficient supply for hospital patients this spring.
By giving blood, donors may be helping someone like 5-year-old Emery Twehues, who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia last spring. During her intense cancer-treatments, Emery has needed both blood and platelets. Cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and certain types of chemotherapy drugs and radiation can damage the bone marrow, where red blood-cells and platelets are produced.
“Emery would not be able to recover from chemotherapy without lifesaving transfusions,” said her mom, Morgan Twehues. “Every time they hang a bag of platelets or blood up on her IV pole, I wish whoever donated that could see who it’s going to. There would be no chance for her to live, taking that chemotherapy, if it weren’t for the blood products.”
In order to meet the needs of patients like Emery, the Red Cross must collect about 13,000 blood and more than 2,500 platelet donations every day.
Make an appointment to help save lives now by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities March 18-April 15
IOWA
Clinton County
Clinton
3/26/2019: 8AM-1PM, Community Reformed Church, 747 N 12th Street
4/6/2019: 9AM-1PM, Prince of Peace Catholic School, 312 South 4th Street
4/9/2019: 1-6PM, Community Reformed Church, 747 N 12th Street
_______________
Lee Co
Fort Madison
3/21/2019: 12:30-5:30PM, Fort Madison United Methodist Church, 510 9th Street
4/18/2019: 12:30-5:30PM, Fort Madison United Methodist Church, 510 9th Street
Keokuk
4/4/2019: 12-6PM, St. Paul United Church of Christ, 2030 Plank Road
ILLINOIS
Henry Co
Annawan
4/11/2019: 2-6PM, Annawan Community Center, 314 N State St
Cambridge
3/28/2019: 2-6PM, St John's Vianney Church, 313 S West Street
Kewanee
4/10/2019: 2-6PM, First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St.
Woodhull
4/5/2019: 9AM-3PM, Woodhull Alwood High School, 301 East 5th
_______________
Lee Co
Ashton
4/15/2019: 1:30-6PM, Ashton-Franklin Center High School, 611 Western, PO Box 329
Dixon
3/25/2019: 9AM-3PM, Sauk Valley Community College Student Government, 173 IL Route 2
4/5/2019: 1-6PM, Dixon Hope Bible Fellowship, 732 Brinton Avenue
4/9/2019: 12:30-5:30PM, Knights of Columbus Hall, 506 West Third
4/16/2019: 9AM-1:30PM, Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, 403 E First Street
4/16/2019: 1:30-6PM, Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, 403 E First Street
4/18/2019: 2-6PM, Dixon Sinnissippi Center, 325 Illinois 2
Sublette
4/2/2019: 1-6PM, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 202 South Locust Street
_______________
Mercer Co
Aledo
3/19/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., VFW Hall, 106 SW 3rd Ave.
4/16/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., VFW Hall, 106 SW 3rd Ave.
Alexis
4/19/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Alexis Community Center, 204 W. Palmer Ave.
_______________
Whiteside Co
Morrison
3/21/2019: 12-6PM, United Methodist Church, 200 West Lincolnway
Prophetstown
4/8/2019: 11:30AM- 5PM, Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3, 79 Grove St.
Rock Falls
3/20/2019: 9AM-2PM, Rock Falls Community Building, 601 W 10th Street
4/3/2019: 1-6PM, Rock Falls Community Building, 601 W 10th Street
4/17/2019: 9AM-2PM, Rock Falls Community Building, 601 W 10th Street
Sterling
3/26/2019: 1-6PM, Sterling Bethel Reformed Church, 230 E 23rd Street
4/4/2019: 9:30AM-3PM, CGH Medical Center, 100 E LeFevre Road
4/4/2019: 2-7PM, CGH Medical Center, 100 E LeFevre Road
4/10/2019: 8AM-2PM, Sterling High School, 1608 4th Ave
How to donate blood
Simply download the 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.
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.
