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 19 through April 23.
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, April is National Volunteer Month – the perfect time to give blood, platelets, or plasma. There is no substitute for volunteer donors as blood cannot be manufactured. In thanks, when donors give blood by April 30, they will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 e-gift card.
“We are in need of blood donors as we gear up for the summer travel season,” said Garry Allison, regional donor services executive with the Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region. “We are very thankful for our great community partners, like the Nashville Predators, who step up and host much needed drives in the region to meet the needs of area hospitals and patients.” 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
“COVID has truly impacted us all in the way we live and work,” Allison said. “The same is true for blood donation. We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to successful drives in many communities thanks to the Predators. The impact through this mission has been record setting.”
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. 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.
Plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high levels of antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood product collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
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
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Nashville Predators Foundation blood donation opportunities April 19 – April 23:
Monday, April 19, 2021:
Jackson Center
6001 Moquin Dr. NW, Huntsville, AL 35806 – 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hendersonville Community Church
381 West Main, Hendersonville, TN 37075 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
YMCA Dickson
225 Henslee Drive, Dickson, TN 37055 – 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church
1655 Main Street, Lebanon, TN 37087 – 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott
1980 Providence Parkway, Mount Juliet, TN 37122 – 11:00 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.
Clarksville American Red Cross
1760 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37043 – 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
East Tennessee American Red Cross Blood Drive
6921 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37909 – 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232 – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
American Red Cross Chapter Memphis
1399 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232 – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Northeast Tennessee American Red Cross Blood Drive
660 Eastern Star Road, Kingsport, TN 37663 – 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
City of Brentwood
Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd., Brentwood, TN 37027 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Clarksville American Red Cross
1760 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37043 – 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sumner Station
225 Big Station Camp Blvd., Gallatin, TN 37066 – 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.
Orchard Park Seventh Day Adventist Church
951 N Orchard Knob Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37406 – 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Hohenwald Church of Christ
110 Park Avenue South, Hohenwald, TN 38462 – 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Ford Ice Center Bellevue
7638 B Highway 70 S., Nashville, TN 37221 – 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Ridgetop Volunteer Fire Department
1735 US-41, Ridgetop, TN 37152 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Southeast Tennessee American Red Cross Blood Drive
4115 S. Access Road, Chattanooga, TN 37406 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
American Legion Post 19
812 Nashville Highway, Hwy 31 North, Columbia, TN 38401 – 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
New Heights Church
363 Caldwell Drive, Goodlettsville, TN 37072 – 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ford Ice Center
5264 Hickory Hollow Parkway, Antioch, TN 37013 – 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Golds Gym-Murfreesboro South
1713 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 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.
Friday, April 23, 2021
Waverly United Methodist Church
115 West Main Street, Waverly, TN 37185 – 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232 – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center
1021 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, KY 42103 – 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center 100 Oaks
719 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sumner Regional Medical Center
555 Hartsville Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
