The following is a press release:
The American Red Cross is continuing the partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation to host a multi-city blood drive April 25 – April 29.
All presenting donors 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. All who come to give blood April 19 – May 19 at blood drives or blood collection centers will also receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice and automatically be entered to win a new travel trailer camper that sleeps eight, thanks to Suburban Propane. Details are available at rcblood.org/camper.
The Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet, and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Plasma from donations that meet the Food and Drug Administration’s criteria for convalescent plasma may be used to treat immunocompromised patients battling COVID-19.
“We are urging all who can to come to donate at these Predator donation sites to help us continue to replenish the blood supply on hospital shelves,” said Clif Redish, interim regional donor services executive with the Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region. “As we go into summer travel season, we expect to see donations decline, so it is important to have our donors show up every 56 days to donate whole blood. We are thankful that our partners, the Nashville Predators, are always there to help our community when called upon.” 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.
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.
Donors with sickle cell trait
April is also National Minority Health Month — a time to raise awareness about health disparities that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority populations. It’s also a time to encourage action through access to care, health education and control of disease complications through blood 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 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 American Red Cross continues to assess COVID-19 safety protocols and are will remove mask requirements at blood drives and donation centers effective April 25 for employees, volunteers, blood drive hosts and blood donors.
If a blood drive host has a mask requirement at their facility, that requirement will be honored. Red Cross will also graciously accommodate mask requests from donors where close interaction occurs. Safety remains the top priority during out blood drives.
Of course, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason and masks will be available for those in attendance at blood drives and donation centers. The Red Cross will also continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities in alignment with CDC guidance.
Individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are still eligible to donate blood and platelets. Knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they receive is important in determining blood donation eligibility.
Nashville Predators Foundation blood donation opportunities April 25 – April 29:
Monday, April 25, 2022
The Livery Stables Event Hall
1104 Main Street
Pleasant View, TN 37146
1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sumner Regional Medical Center
555 Hartsville Pike
Gallatin, TN 37066
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott
1980 Providence Parkway
Mount Juliet, TN 37122
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Clarksville American Red Cross
1760 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37043
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Nashville Predators -Spring Hill Community
125 Stephen P. Yokich Pkwy
Spring Hill, TN 37174
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Light Hall
2215 Garland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232
8:00 a.m. – 02:00 p.m.
City of Brentwood
Brentwood Library
8109 Concord Rd.
Brentwood, TN 37027
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
First Baptist Church
613 South Main Street
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Celebration Lutheran Church
3425 N Mount Juliet Road
Mount Juliet, TN 37122
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Gold’s Gym Smyrna
567 S. Lowry St.
Smyrna, TN 37167
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Ford Ice Center Bellevue
7638 B Highway 70 S
Nashville, TN 37221
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Nashville Predators Galleria
1800 Galleria Blvd.
Suite 2075
Franklin, TN 37067
12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Light Hall 2215 Garland Ave
Nashville, TN 37232
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
City of Brentwood
Brentwood Library
8109 Concord Rd.
Brentwood, TN 37027
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Collinwood Freewill Baptist
1st Ave North
Collinwood, TN 38450
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Clarksville American Red Cross
1760 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37043
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Nashville Predators World Outreach Church
1921 New Salem Highway
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sumner Station
225 Big Station Camp Blvd
Gallatin, TN 37066
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Element Nashville
2825 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center
1021 Wilkinson Trace
Bowling Green, KY 42103
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Ridgetop First Baptist Church
1757 Highway 41 South
Ridgetop, TN 37152
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Nashville Predators – Columbia Community
1106 Nashville Hwy
Columbia, TN 38401
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church
1655 Main Street
Lebanon, TN 37087
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Ford Ice Center
5264 Hickory Hollow Parkway
Antioch, TN 37013
1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Natchez Trace American Red Cross Chapter
129 West Fowlkes St, Ste 100
Franklin, TN 37064
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Huntsville Red Cross Donation Center
1015 Airport Rd. SW
Huntsville, AL 35802
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Friday, April 29, 2022
Hendersonville Community Church
381 West Main
Hendersonville, TN 37075
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center
1021 Wilkinson Trace
Bowling Green, KY 42103
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Nashville Predators Winchester Community
1230 South College Street
Winchester, TN 37398
1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
East Tennessee American Red Cross Blood Drive
6921 Middlebrook Pike
Knoxville, TN 37909
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
