Thu, Jan 22nd 2015 01:55 pm
Editorial
by the American Red Cross
In honor of Black History Month this February, and
in the spirit of Dr. Charles Drew, an African-American surgeon who was the
first medical director of the American Red Cross and a modern blood-banking
pioneer, eligible donors as diverse as the patients who need their blood
donations are encouraged to give blood to ensure a sufficient blood supply.
Blood from a donor with a similar ethnic background
as that of the patient is less likely to cause complications, particularly for
those patients whose chronic conditions require repeated transfusions. Sickle
cell disease is one such chronic condition affecting as many as 100,000 people
in the U.S.
Prior to transfusion, blood type and Rh factor are
matched between donated blood and the patient in need. In some cases,
additional red cell markers in donated blood must be matched, as well. These
markers are best found in blood from donors of a similar ethnicity.
With seasonal flu and inclement winter weather
preventing many regular donors from giving, the Red Cross urges healthy,
eligible donors to make an appointment to donate blood in the coming days and
weeks. All blood types are currently needed to help maintain a diverse and
sufficient blood supply, especially types O negative, A negative and B
negative.
To learn more about donating blood and to schedule
an appointment, download the Red Cross blood donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
ERIE COUNTY
Amherst
- Feb.
10: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Erie Community College North Campus, 6205 Main St.
- Feb.
14: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Best Buy, 1585 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Buffalo
- Feb.
1: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
2: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
3: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Medaille College Student Center, 18 Agassiz Circle
- Feb.
3: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., UB-North Student Union, Student Union
- Feb.
3: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
4: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
5: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
5: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Erie Community College City, 121 Ellicott St.
- Feb.
6: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
7: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
8: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
9: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., UB-North Student Union, Student Union
- Feb.
9: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
10: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
11: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., University at Buffalo North-Alfiero Center, Alfiero
Center
- Feb.
11: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
12: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
13: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
14: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
- Feb.
15: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave., (donor
room)
Cheektowaga
- Feb.
4: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Raymour & Flanigan, 1650 Walden Ave.
East Amherst
- Feb.
1: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Starbucks, 9660 Transit Road
East Aurora
- Feb.
3: 1-7 p.m., East Aurora Moose Lodge 370, 905 Main St.
Elma
- Feb.
12: 1:30-6:30 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 1230 Bowen Road
Getzville
- Feb.
13: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 2640 North Forest Road
Hamburg
- Feb.
2: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
- Feb.
3: 2-7 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
- Feb.
5: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
- Feb.
9: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
- Feb.
10: 2-7 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
- Feb.
12: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
- Feb.
12: 2-6:30 p.m., Wesleyan Church of Hamburg, 4999 McKinley Parkway
- Feb.
14: 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
Kenmore
- Feb.
11: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., McAuley Residence, 1503 Military Road
Orchard Park
- Feb.
8: 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., St John Vianney, 2950 Southwestern Blvd.
- Feb.
9: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Erie Community College South Campus, 4140 Southwestern Blvd.
Sardinia
- Feb.
4: 1:30-6:30 p.m., Sardinia Fire Hall, 12719 W. Schutt Road
Tonawanda
- Feb.
6: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Medco Supply, 500 Fillmore Ave.
- Feb.
7: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Dunkin Donuts, 2200 Sheridan Drive
- Feb.
15: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Family Video, 1971 Colvin Blvd.
West Seneca
- Feb.
4: noon-5:30 p.m., Vigilant Fire Department, 666 Main St.
Williamsville
- Feb.
1: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
2: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
4: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
5: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
6: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
7: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
8: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
9: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
11: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
12: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
13: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
14: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
- Feb.
14: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1424 Maple Road
- Feb.
15: 8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
NIAGARA COUNTY
Lewiston
- Feb.
11: 1:30-6:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 505 Cayuga St.
Lockport
- Feb.
5: 2-7 p.m., South Lockport Fire Co. Inc., 5666 Transit Road
- Feb.
10: 1-6 p.m., The Dale Association Inc., 33 Ontario St.
Niagara Falls
- Feb.
13: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Seneca Niagara Casino, 310 Fourth St.
- Feb.
14: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 736 Cayuga Drive
North Tonawanda
- Feb.
2: noon-6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite 81
- Feb.
4: noon-6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite 81
- Feb.
7: 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite
81
- Feb.
9: noon-6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite 81
- Feb.
11: noon-6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite 81
How to donate
blood
Download the American Red Cross blood donor app, visitredcrossblood.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.
About the
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides
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,
visit redcross.org or visit ARC
on Twitter at @RedCross.