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Give the Gift of Blood in Portland this Holiday Season

December 10, 2019

Give with meaning this holiday season by donating blood in Portland


Give a gift that matters and does’t cost money!

Donors are encouraged to give with meaning this Holiday season by donating blood with the American Red Cross.  Blood donations often decline from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, and volunteer donors are needed to help ensure a stable blood supply. 

The Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations every day for patients in need. Blood is needed for many different reasons. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood.

“Blood transfusion is the fourth most common inpatient hospital procedure in the U.S., and these blood products can only come from volunteer donors. Yet, only 3 out of 100 people in the U.S. give blood. 

Eligible donors, as well as those who have never given before, are urged to make and keep blood donation appointments to help restock the shelves for patients.  Donors of all blood types are encouraged to make an appointment.  Eligible donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are urged to make a Power Red donation. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. During this type of donation, red blood cells are separated from other blood components, and the plasma and platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor.

The Red Cross urges eligible donors to be the lifeline for patients in need this holiday season by making an appointment to give blood or platelets.  While helping to save lives this gift is invaluable. Search for drives by ZIP code and make an appointment to donate using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, online at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

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