Wheeling Nailers Blood Drive Drive Puts A Dent In Shortage
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WHEELING -- Blood donated at the annual Wheeling Nailers Blood Drive at Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church in Wheeling on Monday will help fight a serious shortage in supply.
With a goal of collecting 61 units by the end of the day, Sharon Kesselring, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley, said the event got off to a terrific start by late morning.
While donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to give this summer, the need for blood remains crucial for patients relying on lifesaving transfusions, Kesselring said. The Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types -- especially type O -- are urged to make an appointment to donate now.
Currently, the Red Cross must collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand, as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries.
"We also recognize that we've had a decrease in donors appearing at blood drives -- and that's for a lot of different reasons," Kesselring said.
The Red Cross of the Upper Ohio Valley is also seeking volunteers. Training for disaster volunteers is provided by the Red Cross at no charge. Those interested in volunteering in any capacity may do so at www.redcross.org.
"There's so many different lines of service you can volunteer in — you can be a greeter at blood services at blood drives, or perhaps you would like to work in disaster services," Kesselring said.
Wheeling resident Alan Hinderliter, who is a regular volunteer for the Red Cross, said he feels it is very important to donate and volunteer for the organization.
"I was down to New Orleans last year for two weeks deployed," Hinderliter explained, saying he helped at shelters where hurricanes devastated the region.
Local veteran Doug Lilly of Beech Bottom, who turned out for Monday's blood drive, said he feels a duty to donate blood when he can.
"This is my third time here this year," Lilly commented.
Another blood drive is scheduled from noon-5 p.m. Wednesday at The Highlands Event Center. Kesselring said there are many other blood drives scheduled for different areas throughout the Upper Ohio Valley in July.
"It's so easy to find out where the closest blood drive is," she said. "If you download the (Red Cross) blood donor app, and put in your location and how far you're willing to travel to a blood donor location, it will give you the listings."
In addition people can visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
To thank donors who help refuel the blood supply this month, all who donate between July 7-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card via email, as well as receive automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value), according to American Red Cross officials. More information and details are available at rcblood.org/fuel.
All those who come to donate throughout the entire month of July will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for four to Cedar Point or Knott's Berry Farm. To learn more, visit rcblood.org/CedarFair.