Red Cross blood drive Thursday

Published 3:32 pm Monday, July 18, 2011

The American Red Cross’ Atmore chapter will hold a blood drive on Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Atmore City Hall.

Rhonda Dodge, director of the Atmore Red Cross, said that the entire country is in critical need of blood donors.

“We are in an extreme emergency with our blood supply,” Dodge said. “The whole country is in short supply, and the need is high right now. We have had so many natural disasters in the past months. Some of us have seen tornados and others have seen flooding. Even if we haven’t been in a disaster, we probably know someone who has.”

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Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Accident victims, as well as cancer patients, patients with sickle cell disease and other blood disorders, burn victims and many others receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

There have been so many disasters in the last few months, and although some blood was needed for disaster victims, the real problem is that many blood drives had to be cancelled due to tornados and flooding, so the Red Cross has seen a drop in the number of donors who have been donating.

Not only are blood donors needed for this upcoming drive; they need volunteers to help with the drive.

Every donor will receive an American Red Cross t-shirt and will be entered into a regional drawing for $3,000 in American Express gift cards.

To volunteer or set up an appointment to give blood, call Rhonda Dodge at 251-259-1880.