Blood donors needed to ensure hospitals stay stocked through August
By Devese “Dee” Ursery
Madison County and areas in St. Louis is encouraging people to come out and donate to a worthy life-saving cause.
The American Red Cross is in dire need of blood and platelet donors to sure up its blood supply before the end of the summer. Type O donors and those donating platelets are greatly needed to help keep hospitals stocked through the month of August.
Several towns in Madison County are still accepting donations through August. Troy will be accepting donations on Thursday, Aug.1 from 12:30-5:30p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, located at 7775 Collinsville Road. And again on Friday, Aug. 9 from 1-5 p.m. at the Troy Illinois Fire Protection District, at 116 West Clay Street.
The Red Cross will also be in Alton on Aug.1 from 1-5 p.m. at Abundant Church on 3986 Humbert Road and on Aug. 7, at St. Mary School, 536 East 3rd Street. The last day to donate in Alton is Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Upper Alton Baptist Church on 2726 College Ave. Highland will also host a blood drive on Aug. 7, from 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., at Mosaic Church, 1317 Pestalozzi Street.
Edwardsville will be conducting a blood drive from 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.on Aug. 12 at the Edwardsville Gun Club, 4104 Staunton Road. Bethalto will have its blood drive on Aug. 13 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at the Bethalto Senior Center, 100 E Central.
As a token of their appreciation the American Red Cross is giving away $20 gift cards to Amazon.com, by email, for those who come to donate blood or platelets during the month August. See RedCrossBlood.org/Help for details.
To find hosting locations in the St. Louis area visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.
To donate, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit the website, call 1-800-733-2767 or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.
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, 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.
Donors are a vital resource to patients of all ages battling life-threatening injuries such as: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, according to redcrossblood.org.
Blood and platelet donations are greatly needed to support the Red Cross delivery of vital blood products, which are in demand around-the-clock as hospitals work to save lives this summer.
