July 23 @ 5:30 am – 6:00 pm
Step up to the plate, donate, and help save a life.
94.3 KAT Country, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the American Red Cross invite you to donate blood and help give the gift of life during the St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive. You’re invited to donate blood on Tuesday, July 23rd from 12 PM to 6 PM at the Firley YMCA‘s Gym in Jefferson City. There is an urgent need for donors and you can help!
The American Red Cross critically needs blood and platelet donors following a concerning recent trend – fewer donors giving lifesaving blood. Donors of all blood types are needed now, especially those with type O blood and donors giving platelets.
- About 20,000 fewer blood donations were collected over the past month than needed to protect the Red Cross national blood supply.
- Severe weather and record-breaking travel are expected to continue throughout summer, potentially further impacting the ability of donors to give.
- When fewer people donate, blood products can start to disappear from hospital shelves, but patients counting on lifesaving transfusions have no time to wait.
- Type O blood donors are especially needed to ensure a strong blood supply. Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type in the most serious situations. Type O positive blood is the most used blood type because it can be transfused to Rh[1]positive patients of any blood type.
- Platelets are the clotting portion of blood, needed by many trauma patients as well as cancer patients, and must be transfused within five days of donation. Lifesaving blood products are vital this month to those facing chronic conditions and continuous care, like people living with sickle cell disease.
Incentives for donors:
- A breakfast card from Chick-fil-A.
- A pint of ice cream from Ice Cream Factory.
- A St. Louis Cardinals t-shirt.
This month, the Red Cross recognizes three important dates in June to help bring awareness to the need for blood, especially among diverse populations.
- June 3 marks the 120th birthday of Dr. Charles R. Drew. Known as the “father of blood banking,” Dr. Drew was an African American surgeon and researcher who pioneered modern methods for collecting, preserving, and distributing blood and plasma. He was the medical director of the first Red Cross blood bank.
- June 14 is World Blood Donor Day and the 156th birthday of Dr. Karl Landsteiner, the founder of modern blood transfusion. It’s a day to recognize volunteer blood donors and raise awareness of the need for a safe, diverse and stable blood supply. Blood type is an inherited trait passed genetically from parents. Dr. Landsteiner discovered the A, B, O blood groups and developed the modern system used to classify them. This advancement led to safe blood transfusions between individuals with compatible blood groups.
- June 19 is World Sickle Cell Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and the challenges patients face while battling the chronic condition.
Schedule an appointment to give blood here!
How to Donate Blood
Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. 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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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 must also meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, from a computer or mobile device on the day of their contribution, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters feed and provide emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org.
