BLOOD ASSURANCE IN CRITICAL NEED DUE TO TRAUMAS AND SICKNESS
COOKEVILLE, TENN. (Feb. 20, 2019) — Blood Assurance is in critical need of blood donations and is asking for community members to give as soon as possible. There have been several traumas in the last 24 hours, causing the O-negative and O-positive blood supply to become critically low. Donations have been down due to sickness, and high usage is expected to continue as storms roll through the Blood Assurance service area.
“We are experiencing a critical need at this time and hope members of the community will take 30 minutes out of their day to save lives” said Dr. Elizabeth Culler, medical director at Blood Assurance. “We always see more traumas and higher usage when there are bad weather conditions. That combined with the low donor turnout has created a critical need for blood donations.”
Each donation of blood contains plasma, red blood cells and platelets that can be used to save up to three lives. Patients undergoing surgery, receiving cancer treatment or organ transplants rely on donated blood, in addition to the unexpected traumas seen at hospitals on a daily basis. All blood used at hospitals is given by volunteer donors only.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids — avoiding caffeine — and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. To schedule an appointment or find a donor center or mobile drive near you, please visit www.bloodassurance.org, call 800-962-0628 or text ‘BAGIVE’ to 444999.
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About Blood Assurance
Blood Assurance is a nonprofit, full-service regional blood center serving 51 counties and more than 76 health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. Founded in 1972 as a joint effort of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Chattanooga Area Hospital Council and the Chattanooga Jaycees, the mission of Blood Assurance is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to every area patient in need.
