Health Department Sponsors Red Cross Blood Drive on June 9th

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

The Garrett County Health Department is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Friday, June 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Health Department’s office at 1025 Memorial Drive in Oakland. 

“We needed to cancel our blood drive scheduled in April, so we are working hard to fill the appointments for this June event,” said Sandy Miller, coordinator for the Health Department. “Blood donations are such an important part of saving lives, and we want to do our part to help the Red Cross stay prepared.”

The American Red Cross: “IMMEDIATE NEED FOR DONORS – 37,000 fewer Red Cross blood donation appointments were made in May than what’s necessary to ensure patients have the blood they need in the coming weeks.”

Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767, or calling Sandy at the health department at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111.

To donate blood, a person must be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years old, (or 16 years old with parental consent form), and have not donated blood in the last 56 days.

On the day of their appointment, donors can save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®, meaning they do the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.