JOHNSTOWN – Over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, many will likely hit the road for the unofficial start of the summertime travel season.
The Greater Alleghenies Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is offering to help get area residents to or from their destination of choice in return for their assistance in meeting area blood needs.
Present to donate blood at any area Red Cross blood drive on Memorial Day (May 26) and you’ll drive off with a $5.00 gas card, while supplies last.
According to Jim Starr, CEO, Greater Alleghenies Region, travel and other holiday activities can strain blood supplies in two ways, through an increased risk for accidents and decreased donor turnout.
“Every two seconds someone in our country needs a blood transfusion, and these needs continue 365 days a year,” he stated. “Those who come out to donate on Memorial Day are essential to help fueling our regional blood supplies.”
As of this morning, the 100-county region has just a one-day supply of type O positive, O negative and B negative blood. A one-day supply of type O negative blood equals just 117 units of blood.
“With the increased risk for vehicular and other accidents over holiday weekends, the currently low blood supply is of great concern,” Starr noted. “A victim of an automobile accident typically needs between 4 and 40 units of blood. However, recently one area patient required more than 100 units of red blood cells and more than 200 units of other blood components.”
The Greater Alleghenies Region has scheduled the following drives on May 26:
Altoona – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Red Cross Donor Center, 317 East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
Beaver – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Phil Vogel Blood Donor Center, 133 Friendship Circle
(**2RBC**) Charleston, WV – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Red Cross Donor Center, 4501 MacCorkle Avenue, S.E., Suite 2
Clearfield – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Red Cross Donor Center, 440 Front Place
Cumberland, MD – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Western Potomac Chapter, American Red Cross, 400 Cumberland Street
(**2RBC**) Cumberland, MD – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Holiday Inn – Cumberland, 100 South George Street
(**2RBC**) Grantsville, MD – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grantsville Elementary School, 120 Grant Street
Greensburg – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Westmoreland County Chapter, American Red Cross, 101 North Main Street, Suite 101.
Hagerstown, MD – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Washington County Chapter, American Red Cross, 1131 Conrad Court.
(**2RBC**) Huntington, WV – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Red Cross Donor Center, 1111 Veterans Memorial Boulevard.
(**2RBC**) Indiana – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Indiana Mall, 2090 Route 286
(**2RBC**) Johnstown – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., John P. Murtha Donor Pavilion, 250 Jari Drive
Johnstown – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Galleria of Johnstown, Galleria Drive, Suite 201
Listie – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Listie Volunteer Fire Hall, Social Hall, 139 Village Road
(**2RBC**) Martinsburg – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Park at Martinsburg, 201 South Walnut Street
(**2RBC**) Maugansville, MD – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Maugansville Ruritans, 18007 Maugans Avenue
Morgantown, WV – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Red Cross Donor Center, 1223-10 Pineview Drive.
(**2RBC**) Parkersburg, WV – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Keystone Red Cross Donor Center, 3210 Dudley Avenue
Saint Clairsville, OH – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ohio Valley Mall, Mall Road
Steubenville, OH – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ft. Steuben Mall, 100 Mall Drive
(**2RBC**) Vienna, WV – 10 am to 2 pm, Grand Central Mall, Grand Central Avenue
Waynesboro, PA – 9:30 am to 2 pm, Trinity United Methodist Church of Christ, 30 West North Street
Wellsburg, WV – 9 am to 2 pm, Christian Church of Wellsburg, 1001 Charles Street
Wheeling, WV – 8 am to 1 pm, Ohio Valley Medical Center, 2000 Eoff Street
Winchester, VA – 9 am to 2 pm, Lucy L. Custer Building, American Red Cross, 561 Fortress Drive
Individuals age 17 or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health can donate blood. In Maryland and Pennsylvania, 16-year-olds may donate blood with parental permission. Those with specific eligibility questions should contact the Nursing Collections office at 800-542-5663. Most donors are eligible to give blood every 56 days.
“Donation appointments may be scheduled at many Red Cross blood drives,” he added. “To schedule your blood donation appointment where available call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543).”
The Greater Alleghenies Region directly serves hospitals, patients and donors in a 100-county area in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, with more than five-dozen blood products and related services, and also supports blood needs experienced by patients elsewhere in hospitals served through Red Cross Blood Services.
(**2RBC**) indicates that Double Red Cell Donation is available: Through this automated process, individuals give twice the amount of red blood cells as obtained in whole blood donation, and their plasma and platelets are returned to them. Donors with Type O positive, O negative, A negative and B negative currently in high demand to help build low blood supplies. Donor eligibility for double red cell collection is also determined differently, and varies for men and women. Males must weigh at least 150 pounds and must be at least 5’1’’ tall; while females must be at least 175 pounds and stand at least 5’5’’ tall. All donors are required to have at least a starting hematocrit (iron level) of 40 percent or more. For donors giving through the double red cell procedure, the waiting period between donations is extended from 56 days to 112 days. To make an appointment to donate double red blood cells, please call (800) GIVE LIFE [(800) 448-3543] and select Option 3.