Blood Assurance Urges Summer Donations to Prevent Critical Blood Shortages in Tennessee
Graphic Courtesy of Blood Assurance
In The Know with Gino…
As Tennessee enters the peak period known as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” Blood Assurance is emphasizing the importance of ongoing blood donations to prevent critical shortages. The organization is urging residents to donate blood, platelets, and plasma now and throughout the summer months to help ensure hospitals have the supplies they need.
Historically, the months between Memorial Day and Labor Day see an increase in emergencies, including car crashes, outdoor injuries, and water-related accidents, which contribute to higher blood demand. However, this period also coincides with a drop in blood donations due to school breaks, vacations, and altered routines, creating a potential shortfall in the region’s blood supply.
Blood Assurance serves as the primary blood provider for numerous local hospitals, and every donation can directly save lives. Trauma victims, cancer patients, women experiencing childbirth complications, and surgical patients all rely on timely blood donations, often with little warning. Currently, the organization needs more than 540 volunteer donors each day to maintain sufficient supplies. Remember, hospitals do not take a summer break. Emergency situations require immediate blood availability, and behind each unit is someone’s loved one in need.
To encourage donations, those who give blood through May 31st will receive a special Memorial Day T-shirt, while supplies last.
Appointments can be scheduled online at bloodassurance.org, by calling 800-962-0628, or by texting BAGIVE to 999777. Walk-in donors are also welcome.
Eligibility requirements include being at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds, and being in good health. Donors are advised to stay well-hydrated, avoid caffeine, and consume an iron-rich meal before donating.
Founded in 1972, Blood Assurance is a nonprofit organization serving over 70 healthcare facilities across Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Its mission is to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply for all patients in need, especially during the critical summer months when demand often rises.
SOURCE: Blood Assurance
