As influenza activity picks up, the American Red Cross is urging healthy donors of all blood types to give blood to ensure a strong blood supply for patients in need.
Blood and platelets can only be given by donors who are feeling well. One way to maintain health is to get a flu vaccine each fall. There is no waiting period to give blood after receiving a flu shot as long as the donor is symptom-free and fever-free.
Stay healthy this flu season and make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed this fall after hurricanes Michael and Florence forced the cancellation of about 200 blood drives, causing approximately 7,000 units of blood and platelets to go uncollected.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 1-15
Beaufort
Beaufort
11/29/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Carteret Street United Methodist Church, 408 Carteret Street
Bluffton
11/20/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sun City, 114 Sun City Lane
Hilton Head
11/26/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hilton Head Island Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court
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Hampton
Hampton
11/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Law Office, 101 Mulberry Street E.
GA
Bulloch
Statesboro
11/1/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Pittman Park United Methodist Church, 1102 Fair Road
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Chatham
Savannah
11/1/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
SC
Jasper
Ridgeland
11/2/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Step of Faith Christian Academy, 9009 Tarboro Road
GA
Chatham
Savannah
11/2/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Liberty
Hinesville
11/2/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Legion Post 168, 1121 Oglethorpe Hwy
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Chatham
Savannah
11/3/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/4/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
SC
Jasper
Hardeeville
11/5/2018: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Coastal Carolina Hospital, 1000 Medical Center Drive
GA
Chatham
Savannah
11/5/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/5/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mercer University School of Medicine - Savannah Campus, 1250 E. 66th Street
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/6/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Honey Bowen Building, Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Rec, 1 Max Lockwood Dr
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Chatham
Savannah
11/6/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
SC
Beaufort
Bluffton
11/7/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Bluffton Community, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 351 Buckwalter Pkwy
GA
Chatham
Savannah
11/7/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Candler Hospital, 5353 Reynolds Street
11/7/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Delta Air Lines, 400 Airways Ave.
11/7/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/7/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., May Howard Elementary School, 115 Wilmington Island Road
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Bulloch
Brooklet
11/8/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Southeast Bulloch High School, 9184 Brooklet/Denmark Highway
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Chatham
Savannah
11/8/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/9/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/9/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Nine Line Apparel, 450 Fort Argyle Road
11/10/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/11/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bryan
Richmond Hill
11/12/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., J.F. GREGORY PARK, 240 Cedar Street
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Chatham
Savannah
11/12/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/12/2018: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Memorial Health University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Avenue
11/13/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bryan
Richmond Hill
11/14/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Richmond Hill United Methodist Church, 9050 Ford Avenue
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Chatham
Savannah
11/14/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/15/2018: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church, 4 S. Zetterower Avenue
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Chatham
Savannah
11/15/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/16/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/16/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oglethorpe Charter School, 7202 Central Ave
11/17/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 16-30
GA
Chatham
Savannah
11/16/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/16/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oglethorpe Charter School, 7202 Central Ave
11/17/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/18/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Candler
Metter
11/19/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Metter Community Center, 435 N. Rountree Street
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Chatham
Savannah
11/19/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Wayne
Jesup
11/19/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church Jesup, 415 East Cherry Street
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Bryan
Pembroke
11/20/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Board of Commissioners Building, 51 North Courthouse Street
Richmond Hill
11/20/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bryan County Administrative Complex, 66 Captain Matthew Freeman Drive
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/20/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Honey Bowen Building, Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Rec, 1 Max Lockwood Dr
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Chatham
Savannah
11/20/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/21/2018: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., St. Joseph's Hospital, 11705 Mercy Boulevard
11/21/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Wayne
Jesup
11/21/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wayne Memorial Hospital, 865 South First Street
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Chatham
Savannah
11/22/2018: 7 a.m. - 1:29 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
Pooler
11/23/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Starbucks Pooler - Store #19248, 405 Pooler Parkway
Savannah
11/23/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Liberty
Hinesville
11/23/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Liberty Regional Medical Center, 462 E.G. Miles Parkway
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Chatham
Savannah
11/24/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/25/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/26/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., GA Southern Univ. Williams Center, 74 Georgia Avenue
11/27/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Viracon, 8373 Zell Miller Parkway
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Chatham
Savannah
11/27/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Liberty
Midway
11/27/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Coastal Electric Cooperative, 1265 S. Coastal Highway
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/28/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Bulloch County Park & Recreation, 1 Max Lockwood Drive
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Chatham
Savannah
11/28/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/28/2018: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Memorial Health University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Avenue
Bloomingdale
11/29/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Faulkville Baptist Church, 144 Zeigler Road
Savannah
11/29/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/30/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
12/1/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
The American Red Cross urges people of all races and ethnicities to give blood to help ensure a diverse blood supply for patients in need.
The vast majority of blood types fall into one of the major ABO groups. However, some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups, so a diverse blood supply is important to meeting the medical needs of an increasingly diverse patient population.
Twelve-year-old Braden Green required blood transfusions to treat complications from sickle cell disease. “It saved his life, that blood transfusion,” said his mom, Brenda Green. “A blood donation can give a patient another chance at life or an opportunity to get through the day.”
Blood given to patients with rare blood types or those who need repeated transfusions for conditions such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia must be matched very closely. Patients are less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone with a similar racial or ethnic background.
All blood types are needed to ensure that the right blood product is available at the right time for all patients. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).