From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — The American Red Cross is encouraging people to help meet the urgent need for blood and platelets by resolving to give blood during January’s National Blood Donor Month.
Donating blood or platelets is a way to make a lifesaving impact in the new year for patients like Judy Janssen, who was diagnosed with end-stage autoimmune liver disease in 2016. Janssen received frequent blood transfusions – sometimes multiple times a week – until she underwent a liver transplant last January.
“Blood donors make a really big difference with very little effort,” said Janssen, who received dozens of transfusions before and during her transplant surgery. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for blood donations.”
The critical role of blood and platelet donors has been celebrated each January for nearly 50 years during National Blood Donor Month, which coincides with one of the most difficult times to maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients. Busy holiday schedules, extreme winter weather and seasonal illnesses often impact donor turnout this time of year.
The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to resolve to give blood or platelets regularly, beginning in January. To encourage donations immediately, all those who come to donate by Jan. 6 will get a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Another way to help keep the blood supply strong in the new year is to host a Red Cross blood drive. To learn more about hosting a blood drive and to sign up, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 2-31
AL
Calhoun
Oxford
1/2/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Oxford Civic Center, 401 McCullars Ln
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Cullman
Cullman
1/2/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Walmart Supercenter, 626 Olive St
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/2/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Etowah
Rainbow City
1/3/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Rainbow City Municipal Complex, 3700 Rainbow Drive
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/3/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Lamar
Vernon
1/3/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Generations of Vernon Rehab Center, 1050 Convalescent Rd
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Marion
Winfield
1/3/2019: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., First Baptist Church, 830 US- 43
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Tuscaloosa
Northport
1/3/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., St Mark United Methodist Church, 1421 McFarland Blvd
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Cullman
Cullman
1/4/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Grand Pointe Pharmacy, 2045 2nd Ave NW
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Etowah
Gadsden
1/4/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Riverview Regional, 600 South 3rd Street
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/4/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
Gardendale
1/4/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Gardendale Civic Center, 800 Main Street
Birmingham
1/5/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., NPHC Birmingham, 2210 1st Ave North
1/7/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Etowah
Gadsden
1/8/2019: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Gadsden Regional Medical Center, 1007 Goodyear Avenue
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/8/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Walker
Jasper
1/8/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bevill State Community College – Jasper, 1411 Indiana Ave
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Calhoun
Piedmont
1/9/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Young’s Chapel Methodist Church, 44 youngs chapel rd
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/9/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Talladega
Lincoln
1/9/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Honda Line 2, 1800 Honda Dr
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Walker
Jasper
1/9/2019: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Baptist Medical Center – Walker, 3400 Hwy 78
1/9/2019: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Baptist Medical Center – Walker, 3400 Hwy 78
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/10/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Blount
Hayden
1/11/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Hayden High School, 125 Atwood Rd
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/11/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
1/13/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Our Lady of Sorrows Homewood, 1728 Oxmoor Road
1/14/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
1/14/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Levite Jewish Community Center, 3960 Montclair Rd.
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Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
1/14/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., University Mall, 1701 McFarland Blvd E
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/15/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods BLVD
1/15/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Southminster Presbyterian Church, 1124 Montgomery Highway
1/15/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
1/15/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods BLVD
1/16/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazer Hall – Winter Drive, 920 16th St. South
1/16/2019: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Grandview Medical Center, 3690 Grandview Parkway
1/16/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Etowah
Gadsden
1/17/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., WQSB Gadsden Mall, 1001 Rainbow Drive
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/17/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazer Hall – Winter Drive, 920 16th St. South
1/17/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
1/17/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Precision Coil and Rotor, 5300 East Lake Blvd
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Calhoun
Oxford
1/18/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Quintard Mall, 700 Quintard Drive
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Etowah
Gadsden
1/18/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., WQSB Gadsden Mall, 1001 Rainbow Drive
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/18/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
1/19/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Victoria Morgan LSL, 2300 Veteran’s Memorial Parkway
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/21/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
Trussville
1/21/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., YMCA Trussville, 5920 Valley Road
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Talladega
Talladega
1/21/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Spring Street Recreation Center, 502 South Spring Street
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Calhoun
Oxford
1/22/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Oxford Civic Center, 401 McCullars Ln
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/22/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
1/23/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
1/23/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Burke Hall, 920 Hackberry Lane
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Clay
Ashland
1/24/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., First Assembly Christian School, 85621 Highway 9
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/24/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mayer Electric Supply Co., 3405 4th Avenue South
1/24/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Talladega
Talladega
1/24/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Talladega College-Arthur Shores Lee Bldg., Student Affairs, 627 W.Battle St
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/25/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Pickens
Gordo
1/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Gordo High School, 630 4th Street NW
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Cullman
Hanceville
1/28/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., School of Nursing and Center for Science, 801 Main Street
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/28/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
1/28/2019: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Summit Birmingham, 214 Summit Boulevard, Suite 150
1/29/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Brasfield and Gorrie Birmingham, 3021 7th Avenue South
1/29/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
1/29/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., UA College of Education, 810 Capstone Drive
1/29/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., University of Alabama, 751 Campus Drive
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/30/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Pickens
Gordo
1/30/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Gordo City Hall, 25226 Highway 82
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Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
1/30/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., University of Alabama, 751 Campus Drive
1/30/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Tuscaloosa, 2015 Academy Drive
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Jefferson
Birmingham
1/31/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
1/31/2019: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., University of Alabama Nursing School, 650 University Blvd East
1/31/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., University of Alabama, 751 Campus Drive
1/31/2019: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., University of Alabama Nursing School, 650 University Blvd East
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Jefferson
Birmingham
2/1/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Alabama Power Corporate, 600 18th Street North
2/1/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave S
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Winston
Arley
2/1/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Meek High School, 6615 Co Rd 41
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 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 generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to 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.
Volunteers needed: Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/driver.
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.