You can honor a uniquely American holiday by giving something that’s uniquely you.
By donating blood this Thanksgiving, you’ll help ensure that blood is available for patients in need, and honor the spirit of giving that surrounds the start of the holiday season.
“When you donate blood this time of year, you can take pride in knowing someone is extremely thankful for your act of giving,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the American Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region.
Because of you, someone’s mother, father, child or friend may have a chance to spend another holiday with people they love.”
Every day, patients across the U.S. need more than 44,000 units of blood to treat emergency and ongoing medical conditions. Patients depend on blood for cancer treatments, scheduled surgeries, emergency or accident care, as well as ongoing needs related to serious diseases like sickle cell.
While all blood types are needed, the demand for type O blood is great since type O can be transfused to patients with other blood types like A, B and AB. While type O positive can be transfused to patients with any positive blood type, type O negative can be transfused to anyone with any blood type, making it the type most needed in emergencies when a patient’s blood type isn’t known.
“At the American Red Cross, we’re thankful for every person who helps give someone a second chance at life by donating blood,” said Whitman. “While blood is needed year-round, it holds special meaning during the holidays since you’re giving something back to the community that truly comes from within.”
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Edgerton High School in the gymnasium, located at 111 E. River St. in Edgerton.
- Friday, Nov. 8, from noon until 6 p.m. at Pioneer Area Chamber of Commerce in the Community Room, located at 100 N. Elm St. in Pioneer. This blood drive is held In Memory of Jerry Heminger Sr.
HOW TO DONATE BLOOD
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in Indiana and Ohio), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
INFORMATION PROVIDED