Williamson County Chamber: Nashville Predators And American Red Cross Score With Multi-City, Record Breaking Blood Drives Aug. 9 – Aug. 13

Press release from Williamson County Chamber:

July 23, 2021

Pre-registered donors will receive a Nashville Predators Foam puck and will be entered into a drawing for an American Red Cross logo puck signed by current Nashville Predators player for each drive

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 21, 2021 — The American Red Cross is continuing the partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation to host a multi-city blood drive Aug. 9 through Aug. 13.

All presenting donors who pre-schedule an appointment will receive a Predators foam hockey puck, while supplies last. All presenting donors will be automatically entered into a drawing to win an official American Red Cross logo puck signed by a current Nashville Predators player from each blood drive location.

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give now. 

Right now, the Red Cross needs to 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 need all Preds fans who are healthy and eligible to donate blood to sign up to help us make our goals and help us defeat this blood shortage,” said Garry Allison, regional donor services executive with the Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region. “Our partnership with the Nashville Predators makes such an impact in our communities to meet the need for blood in our region for patients in our hospitals.” Eighty percent of blood donated to the Red Cross is acquired from blood donations made at blood drives. The organization supplies 40 percent of blood across the nation.

How to donate blood

Simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, sponsor code: PREDS19 or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Health insights for donors

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet, and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

Blood drive safety

The Red Cross has updated its pandemic safety protocols in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Fully vaccinated individuals, including staff and donors, no longer need to wear masks or socially distance. Unvaccinated individuals continue to be required to wear masks and socially distance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including social distancing and face masks for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face mask while at the drive if they have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Nashville Predators Foundation blood donation opportunities Aug. 9 – Aug. 13:

Aug. 9, 2021

East Tennessee American Red Cross – Auditorium

6921 Middlebrook Pike

Knoxville, TN 37909

1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center – Light Hall

2215 Garland Avenue

Nashville, TN 37232

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Inn at Opryland – McGavock Ballroom

2401 Music Valley Drive

Nashville, TN 37214

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Clarksville American Red Cross Chapter – Donor Room

1760 Madison Street

Clarksville, TN 37043

10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hendersonville Community Church – Gym

381 West Main Street

Hendersonville, TN 37075

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Celebration Lutheran Church – Fellowship Hall

3425 N. Mount Juliet Road

Mount Juliet, TN 37122

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

East/West Building – Lebanon Community

945 E. Baddour Parkway

Lebanon, TN 37087

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Aug. 10, 2012

World Outreach Church – Gym

1921 New Salem Highway

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center – Light Hall

2215 Garland Avenue

Nashville, TN 372323

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Northeast Tennessee American Red Cross – Auditorium

660 Eastern Star Road

Kingsport, TN 37663

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Memphis American Red Cross Chapter – Board Room

1399 Madison Avenue

Memphis, TN 38104

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church – Christian Life Center

212 Waterloo Street

Lawrenceburg, TN 38464

12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Hohenwald Church of Christ – Gym

110 Park Avenue South

Hohenwald, TN 38462

12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Sumner Regional Medical Center – Sumner Station Room 213

225 Big Station Camp Blvd.

Gallatin, TN 37066

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Aug. 11, 2021

CoolSprings Galleria – JCPenney Wing

1800 Galleria Blvd.

Franklin, TN 37067

12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

City of Brentwood – Meeting Rooms

8109 Concord Road

Brentwood, TN 37027

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall

300 Sam Hagar Street

Smyrna, TN 37167

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Clarksville American Red Cross Chapter – Donor Room

1760 Madison Street

Clarksville, TN 37043

10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center – Meeting Rooms

1021 Wilkinson Trace

Bowling Green, KY 42103

10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Aug. 12, 2021

Ford Ice Center Bellevue – Rooms 1 and 4

7638 B Highway 70 South

Nashville, TN 37221

12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Southeast Tennessee American Red Cross – Training Room

4115 S. Access Road

Chattanooga, TN 37406

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Goodlettsville Church – Activity Building

226 South Main Street

Goodlettsville, TN 37072

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Church Street Church of Christ – Annex

305 West Church Street

Lewisburg, TN 37091

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Natchez Trace American Red Cross – Chapter Office

215 W. Fowlkes Street Suite 100

Franklin, TN 37064

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Albany Community – Hall

200 North Spring Street

Albany, KY 42602

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sparta Community – Civic Center

514 E Bockman Way

Sparta, TN 38583

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

YMCA Dickson – Community Room

225 Henslee Drive

Dickson, TN 37055

2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Aug. 13, 2021

Sumner Regional Medical Center – Foxland/Monthaven Room

555 Hartsville Pike

Gallatin, TN 37066

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center – Meeting Rooms

1021 Wilkinson Trace

Bowling Green, KY 42103

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ford Ice Antioch – Rooms 1 & 2

5264 Hickory Hollow Parkway

Antioch, TN  37013

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

City of Brentwood – Meeting Rooms

8109 Concord Road

Brentwood, TN 37027

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

First Baptist Church Old Hickory – Fellowship Hall

1106 Hadley Avenue

Old Hickory, TN 37138

2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

This press release was produced by Williamson County Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.