It’s another effort to get more people to donate blood, but without mentioning blood types.
Frederick, Md (KM). Normally, when you see a public service announcement from the American Red Cross asking for more blood donors, it usually emphasizes the need for certain blood types. But not this time. The Red Cross has launched the “Missing Types” campaign where all references to blood types A, B and O will disappear.
Regina Boothe Bratton with the Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the Red Cross says the campaign highlights the need for all blood types, and what could happen if all the blood types disappeared from the shelves. “And when those blood types are missing, cancer patients, sickle cell anemia patients, hospital patients, trauma patients, are in a critical situation,” she says. “We want to bring awareness to that. And we want to convince people that this is worth their time and this is worth their energy.”
In past campaigns, the Red Cross has said all blood types are welcome, but the ones that were especially needed were types A and B and O-Negative. Bratton says all blood types are need. “It’s a jarring reminder of how dire the situation can be if types A, B and O were missing form the shelves. And that has actually happened in the past, and we were depleted, and didn’t have those types,” she says.
The Red Cross says someone in this country needs blood every two seconds, but only three-percent of the US population gives blood on a regular basis. The non-profit organization says it needs 13,000 blood donors each day for patients at the country’s approximately 2,600 hospitals.
Anyone who wants to give blood needs to be in relatively good health, and weigh at least 110-pounds. They need to be 17-years of age, but 16-year-olds can donate with parental consent.
For more information on how to donate and set up an appointment, go to RedCross.org, or CruzRojaAmericana.org. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Here are some upcoming opportunities in Frederick County to give blood:
6/12/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/13/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/15/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/16/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/17/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/18/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/19/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/20/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/22/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/23/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/24/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/25/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/26/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/27/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/29/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/29/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Frederick County Health Dept., 350 Montevue Lane
6/30/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
6/30/2018: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Unity Church in Frederick, 5112 Pegasus Court, Ste E
7/1/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
7/2/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
7/3/2018: 11:15 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Frederick Blood Donation Center, 141 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 120
Libertytown
6/12/2018: 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., St Peter’s Catholic Church-Libertytown, 9200 Church St.
Middletown
6/11/2018: 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Holy Family Catholic Church, 7321 Burkittsville Rd.
Monrovia
6/29/2018: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Rotary Club of Southern Frederick, 11791 Fingerboard Road
Mount Airy
6/12/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Med One Mount Airy Pharmacy, 1 N. Main Street
6/16/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Mt. Airy Bible Church, 1670
By Kevin McManus