During Trauma Awareness Month in May, the American Red Cross urges the community to give blood and help ensure a sufficient supply for patient emergencies.
Dennis Weidner knows how critical blood products are in trauma situations. In 1996, part of his left leg was amputated following a farming accident. “Through the surgeries, I received 13 units of blood,” he said. Weidner now gives blood as often as he can.
Donors of all blood types are needed this May. Every day, the Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood donations to meet the needs of trauma patients and others with serious medical conditions. In Indiana-Ohio Region alone, the Red Cross needs about 550 donors each day to support patients at more than 80 area hospitals.
Schedule your appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can then also visit redcrossblood.org/cedarfair to enter to win one of two grand prize packages for four to Knott’s Berry Farm in California or Cedar Point in Ohio.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Williams County:
Bryan
5/17/2016: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Bryan High School, 150 S Portland
5/28/2016: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wal-mart, 1215 S. Main Street
Edgerton
5/26/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Edgerton Fire Department, 108 East Indiana Street
Montpelier
5/13/2016: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Montpelier Sports Complex, 10079 St. Route 576
Pioneer
6/3/2016: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Pioneer Community Center, 100 North Elm Street
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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
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