The American Red Cross is continuing the partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation to host a multi-city blood drive June 14 through June 18.
All presenting donors who pre-schedule an appointment will receive a Predators foam hockey puck, while supplies last. All presenting donors will be automatically entered into a drawing to win an official American Red Cross logo puck signed by a current Nashville Predators player from each blood drive location. Additionally, every year on June 14, organizations all around the globe celebrate World Blood Donor Day. An event that raises awareness to the importance that donating blood means to the health industry, as the range of uses is way more diverse than anyone thinks. In thanks, when donors come to give blood by June 30, they will also receive a $5 gift card from Amazon.com, by email.
"With more people becoming vaccinated every day, and cities reopening, more people are traveling this summer and the need of blood donors is very high," said Garry Allison, regional donor services executive with the Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region. "Our partnership with the Nashville Predators has been key for us meeting the need for blood in our region for patients in our hospitals." Eighty percent of blood donated to the Red Cross is acquired from blood donations made at blood drives. The organization supplies 40 percent of blood across the nation. "We are so grateful for this wonderful blood drive sponsorship and we look forward to continued success with our community drives. Donors have been so responsive to meet the need with the Predators' drives, the impact has been huge."
How to donate blood
Simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, sponsor code: PREDS19 or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device 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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
Health insights for donors
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies through July 24. The test may indicate if the donor's immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive antibody test and sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
Blood drive safety
The Red Cross has updated its pandemic safety protocols in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Fully vaccinated individuals, including staff and donors, no longer need to wear masks or socially distance. Unvaccinated individuals continue to be required to wear masks and socially distance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions - including social distancing and face masks for donors and staff - have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face mask while at the drive, in alignment with state guidance.
Nashville Predators Foundation blood donation opportunities June 14 - June 18:
Monday, June 14, 2021:
Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tennessee River Chapter - American Red Cross - 1760 Madison Street, Clarksville
10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott - 1980 Providence Parkway, Mount Juliet
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
East Tennessee - American Red Cross - 6921 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church - 1655 Main Street, Lebanon
12:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
The Inn at Opryland - 2401 Music Valley Drive, Nashville
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
YMCA Dickson - 225 Henslee Drive, Dickson
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Celebration Lutheran Church- 3425 N. Mt. Juliet Drive, Mt. Juliet
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Coleman United Methodist Church - 322 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg
12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
East Tennessee American Red Cross - 6921 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Gallatin Civic Center - 210 Albert Gallatin Avenue, Gallatin
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hohenwald COC- 110 Park Avenue South, Hohenwald
12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Lowes Murfreesboro - 1826 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Memphis American Red Cross - 1399 Madison Avenue, Memphis
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Ashland City Church of Christ - 110 Cumberland Street, Ashland City
1:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Bowling Green American Red Cross - Holiday Inn University Plaza, 1021 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, Kentucky
10:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
City of Brentwood - Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd., Brentwood
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CoolSprings Galleria - 1800 Galleria Blvd. Suite 2075, Franklin
12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church - 4815 Franklin Pike, Nashville
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Gold's Gym Smyrna - 567 S. Lowry Street, Smyrna
1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Hendersonville Community Church - 381 West Main, Hendersonville
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Portland Church of Christ - 200 North Russell, Portland
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sumner Regional Medical Center - 555 Hartsville Pike, Gallatin
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Albany Community - 200 N. Spring Street, Albany, Kentucky
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Church Street Church of Christ - 305 West Church Street, Lewisburg
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ford Ice Center Bellevue - 7638 B Highway 70 S., Nashville
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Goodlettsville Church - 226 S. Main Street, Goodlettsville
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Natchez Trace American Red Cross - 129 West Fowlkes St, Ste 100, Franklin
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ridgetop Volunteer Fire Dept - 1735 US-41, Ridgetop
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Southeast Tennessee American Red Cross - 4115 S. Access Road, Chattanooga
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Livery Sables - 1104 Main Street, Pleasant View
1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, June 18, 2021
Bowling Green American Red Cross- Holiday Inn University Plaza, 1021 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, Kentucky
10:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
City of Brentwood - Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd., Brentwood
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ford Ice Center Antioch - 7638 B Highway 70 S., Nashville
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Jamestown Community - 629 N. Main Street, Jamestown
12:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Nashville First Church of the Nazarene - 510 Woodland Street, Nashville
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Old Hickory Village - First Baptist Church Old Hickory 1106 Hadley Avenue, Old Hickory
2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Vanderbilt Health 100 Oaks - 719 Thompson Lane, Nashville
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
