BRUNSWICK — In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, the American Red Cross is asking donors to give blood or platelets, after nearly 200 Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast were forced to cancel, resulting in more than 5,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations, according to the nonprofit.
“Natural disasters like hurricanes can disrupt blood drives and prevent donors from giving, but hospital patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “There is an especially critical need for platelets to help cancer patients and type O blood donations for ongoing patient care and emergencies. Every donation can be a lifeline for patients.”
Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Financial donations are also needed and allow the Red Cross to provide disaster relief immediately by visiting RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Upcoming local blood donation opportunities:
Lisbon: Oct. 8, 2- 7 p.m., Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Ave.
Brunswick: Oct. 12, 1-6 p.m., American Legion Post 20, 1 Columbus Drive; Oct. 3, 3- 8 p.m., Bowdoin College, Morrell Lounge.
Freeport: Sept. 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., L.L. Bean Retail Store Freeport, 95 Main St.
Harpswell: Sept. 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Elijah Kellogg Church, 917 Harpswell Neck Road.
Bath: Oct. 3, 1- 6 p.m., The Hampton Inn Bath, 140 Commercial St.; Sept. 28, noon to 6 p.m., Senior Citizens Activity Center, 45 Floral St.
Topsham: Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Servpro Topsham, 28 Monument Place, Suite D; Sept. 26, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Stantec Consulting, 30 Park Drive.
How to donate blood
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 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.
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