Eligible blood donors of all blood types are encouraged to give blood through the American Red Cross this spring to help ensure a sufficient supply for hospital patients.
Donated blood is perishable and must constantly be replenished to keep up with hospital patient need. Red blood cells are the blood component most frequently transfused by hospitals and must be used within 42 days of donation.
Eligible donors can give red blood cells through either a regular whole blood donation or a Power Red donation, where available. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. During this type of donation, red blood cells are separated from other blood components, and the plasma and platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor.
While donors of all blood types are encouraged to give blood, type O, A negative and B negative donors are urged to give Power Reds if they meet the additional eligibility criteria. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type in an emergency. Similarly, type O positive can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh-positive or negative patients. Power Red donations help ensure a stable supply of these critical blood types.
Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, up to six times a year, and Power Red donations may be made every 112 days, up to three times per year.
Make an appointment to donate blood 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:
KENTUCKY
Boyd
Ashland
4/24/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., King’s Daughters Medical Center, 2201 Lexington Avenue
4/26/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Paul Blazer High School, Blazer Blvd
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Greenup
Greenup
4/25/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Greenup Health Dept, 806 Seaton Ave
Russell
4/20/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Russell Area Tech Center, 710 Red Devil Lane
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Mason
Maysville
4/18/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Church of the Nativity, 31 East Third St
4/19/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mason Co High School Field House, 1320 U. S. Rt. 68
OHIO
Gallia
Gallipolis
4/20/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saint Peters Episcopal Church, 541 2nd Avenue
Rio Grande
4/27/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Buckeye Hills Vocational School, 351 Buckeye Hills Rd
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Jackson
Jackson
4/20/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 251 Powell Drive
4/21/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Jackson Holzer Med Ctr, 500 Burlington Rd
Wellston
4/18/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hope United Methodist Church, 219 East 1st Street
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Lawrence
Chesapeake
4/29/2017: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Getaway Community Church Fellowship Hall, 1238 State Route 243
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Meigs
Pomeroy
4/26/2017: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Mulberry Community Center, 260 Mulberry Ave
Racine
4/27/2017: 9:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Southern Local HS – Gym, 920 Elm Street
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Scioto
Lucasville
4/26/2017: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Valley High School, 1821 State Route 728
4/27/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Taylor Building Health Tech Career, 951 Vern Riffe Drive
Minford
4/26/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Minford HS, 491 Bond Rd, P. O. Box 204
Portsmouth
4/25/2017: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Clay High School, 44 Clay High St.
4/25/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 610 4th Street
South Webster
4/19/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., South Webster High School, 10529 St. Rt. 140
West Portsmouth
4/28/2017: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Portsmouth West HS, 15332 US Rt 52
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WEST VIRGINIA
Cabell
Huntington
4/17/2017: 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Huntington Blood Donation Center, 1111 Veterans Memorial Blvd
4/24/2017: 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Huntington Blood Donation Center, 1111 Veterans Memorial Blvd
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Kanawha
Belle
4/18/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Riverside High School, 1 Warrior Way
Charleston
4/17/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., University of Charleston, 2300 Maccorkle Ave
4/19/2017: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Jackson Kelly, 500 Lee Street
4/27/2017: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., West Virginia American Water, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Nitro
4/18/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Nitro High School, Park Avenue and 15th Street
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Putnam
Hurricane
4/21/2017: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Catholic Church of the Ascension, 905 Hickory Mill Rd
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Roane
Amma
4/17/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Amma Senior Citizen & Community Center, 3340 Amma Rd
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Wirt
Elizabeth
4/24/2017: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Elizabeth Baptist Church-Fellowship Hall, 791 Mulberry Street
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Wood
Parkersburg
4/21/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Parkersburg Blood Donation Center, 3210 Dudley Ave
4/28/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Parkersburg Blood Donation Center, 3210 Dudley Ave