American Red Cross invokes blood donations for annual drive

January 29, 2016 | Events, UToday
By Lindsay Mahaney



Will you meet the challenge?

The provocation can be found on numerous posters calling for people to donate blood this month at the American Red Cross blood drives at The University of Toledo.

Am-Red-Cross-logo_0Donors can give on the following dates:

• Monday, Feb. 1 — Student Union Ingman Room, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 2 — Student Union Ingman Room, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Feb. 3 — Brady Engineering Innovation Center, Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex Room 1000, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 4 — UTMC Morse Center, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“We cannot manufacture blood, and someone throughout the U.S. receives a blood product every two seconds,” said Jennifer Hughes, donor recruitment account manager of the American Red Cross Western Lake Erie Region. “Recipients can range from those that suffer from a blood disorder or disease, trauma patients, burn victims, and those impacted by cancer. Each blood donation has an impact on up to three lives, so it is a great way to give back to the community.”

Due to the severe weather across the nation in recent weeks, the American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood. More than 300 drives across 20 states were canceled, resulting in more than 9,500 uncollected donations, taking away from the already low winter supply.

“You never know when you or a loved one will need blood products,” said Diane Smith, donor recruitment account manager of the American Red Cross Western Lake Erie Region. “If more healthy people donated, we would never have to worry about whether our hospitals have enough inventory.”

The goal is to collect more than 160 pints from Main Campus and 34 pints from Health Science Campus.

While an appointment is not necessary, it is encouraged. To schedule an appointment, donors should visit redcross.org and enter a sponsor code — UTMAIN for Main Campus or UTMED for Health Science Campus. Donors also can call 1.800.RED.CROSS. A valid photo ID is required to give blood.

A limited number of free T-shirts will be available for donors on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact Hughes at 419.764.4168 or jennifer.hughes@redcross.com or Smith at 419.205.8178 or diane.smith2@redcross.org.

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