American Red Cross Blood Drive – September 28, 2021
Emmanuel UMC collected 41 units of blood at our American Red Cross blood drive on Saturday, July 24. That is a record for the church’s drives. Those units are already on their way to helping up to 123 individuals in medical need. The Red Cross is experiencing a blood emergency, and the outpouring from the donors was an affirmation of the generosity of our community. The response was so robust that the Red Cross staff were at capacity; we regretfully had to turn away several walk-ins. Our next drive is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28th from 10am to 3pm. Donors can sign-up for an appointment below.
On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Emmanuel United Methodist Church will partner with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive at the church. Scheduled donations will be accepted from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Information on how to schedule your donation is below.
For over 135 years the Red Cross has provided humanitarian aid, including more than 75 years of supplying blood to those in need. Each pint of blood collected can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of many more. It is a great way to make a positive impact in our community and across the country.
All blood types are needed, but donors with O negative, A negative or B negative blood are in most need. Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency personnel reach for in trauma situations when there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive is the most transfused blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh-positive or negative patients.
Donors will be accepted by appointment only. Scheduling allows us to maintain social distancing for the safety of all. There are two ways to schedule an appointment:
1. Click Here to Schedule Your Lifesaving Donation
2. Go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter Sponsor Code: Emmanuel UMC.
Safety is, of course, of paramount importance during these blood drives. At each blood drive, Red Cross staff already adhere to high standards of safety and infection control. In addition to standard procedures, the Red Cross has implemented additional COVID-19 precautions. These include the following:
- Checking temperatures of staff and donors before entering the drive to make sure they are healthy.
- Providing hand sanitizer for use before the drive, as well as throughout the donation process.
- Following social distancing between donors including entry, donation and refreshment areas.
- Ensuring face masks or coverings are worn by both staff and donors at all times in alignment with CDC guidelines. (If a donor does not have a mask, the Red Cross will provide one. If a donor does not want to wear a mask, we ask they postpone their donation for a later date.)
- Staff wearing gloves and changing gloves often.
- Routinely disinfecting surfaces, equipment and donor-touched areas.
- Using sterile collection sets and an aseptic scrub for every donation.
- Prohibiting guests from the blood drive.