The American Red Cross is urging Davidson County residents to donate blood immediately after declaring an emergency blood shortage caused by a sharp decline in donations during June.
According to the Red Cross, the nation’s blood supply dropped nearly 25% last month as donations fell well below the level needed to meet hospital demand. The shortage is especially critical for platelet donations and blood types O positive and B negative.
Red Cross officials said hospitals are currently using about 3,500 more units of blood each week than expected during what is traditionally one of the busiest trauma seasons of the year. At the same time, summer vacations, busy schedules and the seasonal loss of school blood drives have contributed to fewer donations.
“A readily available blood supply serves as the backbone of modern medicine,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, medical director for the American Red Cross. “Without it, lifesaving treatments and critical access points to care are not possible. Emergency departments, operating rooms and labor and delivery units can’t support patients with the most urgent needs, and cancer patients must wait. We’re asking donors to give now before doctors are forced to make those difficult decisions.”
The Red Cross also hopes to dispel common misconceptions about blood donations. A recent survey found that fewer than one in five Americans realize blood cannot be stockpiled because it has a limited shelf life, while only about half believe they or someone close to them will ever need a blood transfusion. In reality, someone in the United States receives blood every two seconds.
As an incentive, everyone who donates blood between July 13 and July 31 will receive a Fandango movie ticket by email, valued at up to $15.
Several blood drives are scheduled throughout Davidson County in the coming weeks, including:
- Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave. – Multiple donation opportunities are available throughout July and August.
- Metro Airways Plaza, 1281 Murfreesboro Pike – July 15.
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1310 24th Ave. S. – July 16.
- Ford Ice Center Bellevue, 7638B Highway 70 S. – July 16 and Aug. 11.
- First Lutheran Church, 113 Eighth Ave. S. – July 16.
- The Loveless Cafe, 8400 Highway 100 – July 20.
- Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, 4004 Lebanon Pike – July 29.
- Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, 2800 Opryland Drive – July 29.
- Green Hills YMCA, 4041 Hillsboro Circle – Aug. 3.
- Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, 300 21st Ave. N. – Aug. 10.
- Ascension Saint Thomas West Hospital, 4220 Harding Road – Aug. 10.
Residents can schedule an appointment through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at <RedCrossBlood.org>, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
