THE TENNESSEE VALLEY-During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood.
Since 1943, every U.S. president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the Red Cross helps people down the street, across the country and around the world.
Red Cross Month is a celebration of the everyday heroes, like Karla Essmiller, who are the face of the Red Cross in their communities. Essmiller began donating blood and even coordinated a few blood drives when she was in college. “Donating blood is a simple gift that I can make that may help up to three people live another day,” she said. “That makes me feel like a hero!”
The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types are needed to help accident and burn victims, patients undergoing organ transplants, those receiving cancer treatments and others who rely on blood products.
Make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
| 3/1/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Southern Homes, 1037 Highway 44 | Russellville |
| 3/3/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Calhoun Community College – Limestone Co., 6250 Highway 31 N. | Tanner |
| 3/3/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/4/2016: 1:30 – 6:30 p.m., Ruritan Club Building Highway 75 | Henagar |
| 3/4/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/4/2016: 12:30 – 5 p.m., National Packaging Co. Inc., 101 Lenwood Road SW | Decatur |
| 3/5/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Piney Grove Baptist Church, 28430 Pinedale Road | Ardmore |
| 3/5/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/7/2016: 2 – 6:30 p.m., YMCA Lauderale County, 2121 Helton Drive | Florence |
| 3/7/2016: 12 – 7 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/8/2016: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Morgan County Courthouse, 302 Lee St. NE | Decatur |
| 3/9/2016: 4 – 8 p.m., Family Life Church, Mississippi 63 | Moss Point |
| 3/10/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/10/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Falkville High School, 43 Clark Drive | Falkville |
| 3/11/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/12/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/12/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Latimer Community Center, 10908 Daisy Vestry Road | Ocean Springs |
| 3/13/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 13550 Chaney Thompson Road | Huntsville |
| 3/14/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Seminary St. | Florence |
| 3/14/2016: 12 – 7 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. | Huntsville |
| 3/15/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hatton High School, 6906 AL Highway 101 | Town Creek |
| 3/15/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., St. Martin High School, 11300 Yellow Jacket Blvd. | Ocean Springs |
How to donate blood
Simply 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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
Media Release/ American Red Cross/Kristen Stancil | External Communications Manager
Biomedical Field Marketing and Communications
