Last Updated on September 24, 2013 11:36 pm
The American Red Cross and Appalachian State University are calling on Mountaineer supporters to help save lives and break the school’s blood collection record. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. ASU is helping make sure that blood is available by sponsoring the 7th annual Homecoming Blood Drive with the Red Cross on Sept. 25, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Holmes Convocation Center at Appalachian State University.
ASU is trying to break its own record of 1,313 pints of blood, which the school collected last year. In addition, the Mountaineers hold the record for the largest single day blood drive in North Carolina and are ranked in the top ten nationally.
Presenting donors will receive:
A special ASU T-shirt
A Sports Clips Coupon for a FREE haircut
A chance to win a $1,000 gift card
Great food provided by local businesses and entertainment by various groups
Appointments are encouraged and can be made at specialevents.appstate.edu.
The Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to 103 hospitals and must have 1,600 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.
Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given safely every two weeks, up to 24 times a year. Most healthy people age 17 and older, 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.
