Garland Youth Council will host a blood drive at Dickey’s Barbecue Garland to help Texans in urgent need of transfusions. Donate Monday, April 18.
As North, Central and East Texans resume regular activities this spring, Carter BloodCare reminds residents to put blood donation at the top of their to-do lists. Statewide COVID-19 cases have dropped but the community blood supply has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels; many blood types remain at less than one day’s availability. Between 600 and 800 patients need blood transfusions daily; most require more than one unit of red cells or other blood components, like platelets.
To help the community replenish and recover, Garland Youth Council will host a blood drive at Dickey’s Barbecue Garland. The drive will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, April 18, at 1413 W. Buckingham Road in the Carter BloodCare Bus. For details and to make an appointment, contact Elisa Morales at (979) 618-8779.
To save time as well, donors can complete their medical history questionnaire online on the day of donation. From mini-health check and donation to free refreshments, most donors can expect the entire process to take an hour or less.
Potential blood donors may volunteer at the age 16 with parental consent; 17-year-olds and older can give independently. There is no upper age limit. Also, people with and without COVID-19 vaccinations are eligible to donate blood. For more on donor eligibility and to set an appointment, call 800-366-2834 or visit CarterBloodCare.org.
About Carter BloodCare
Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 180 medical facilities in 50-plus counties of North, Central and East Texas. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas. It delivers more than 450,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products. Tu centro de sangre comunitario.