Blood drive on August 24

The American Red Cross invites you to give the gift of life by donating blood at OWASA on Wednesday, August 24th. The blood drive from 10 AM to 2:30 PM will be in the Community Room on the lower floor of the Administration Building, 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro. For a map showing OWASA’s location,please click here.

Parking will be available on the west side of the Administration Building (the left side of the building when seen from Jones Ferry Road), near the entrance to the Community Room.

The OWASA blood drive comes during the difficult summer months, a time when many regular donors postpone giving blood due to vacation plans and summer activities. The American Red Cross continues to have an emergency need for blood donors to give now and address a critical blood shortage. Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.

“Hospital patients don’t get a summer holiday from needing blood,” said Krystal Overmyer, communications manager for the Carolinas Blood Services Region. “We invite community members to spend about an hour with us to address this seasonal challenge and help save patient lives.”

Donors must be in general good health, have photo identification, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent).  High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Presenting donors will receive a $5 Amazon gift card code by email.

For an appointment, please visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter “owasa” as the sponsor code or contact Kelly Thompson at 919-537-4370 or kthompson@owasa.org.  To give blood without making an appointment, please come to the drive at noon or later. Information and appointments are also available from the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or www.redcrossblood.org.

Blood donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

Future blood drives at OWASA

October 27                              10 AM – 2:30 PM

December 29                          10 AM – 2:30 PM