Donate Blood for Health, Safety of Mothers and Newborn Babies

A little-known reason why blood is required for hospital blood banks is complications during pregnancy, at childbirth, or post-delivery, leading to significant blood loss. Severe bleeding is one of the top five causes of pregnancy-related deaths1 in the United States.
Volunteer donors help ensure blood is available if and when it’s needed. Keep moms and babies top-of-mind by donating blood with Carter BloodCare in May, the month we celebrate Mother’s Day.

Freestone Medical Center is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 27, at 764 W. Commerce in the parking lot on the Carter BloodCare bus. To receive more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Rebecca Yarbrough at (903) 389-1618.

The pandemic has kept the blood supply at levels not seen in decades. Shuttered workplaces and virtual schooling led to blood drive cancellations and a potential loss of more than 50,000 units of blood collected. Carter BloodCare calls on the community to restock the shelves because blood is essential.

Have you known or cared for someone who received blood transfusions? Carter BloodCare believes personal stories are powerful ways to encourage someone to give blood. Share your story at carterbloodcare.org/tellusyourstory/ and inspire others to give this May.

Appointments are encouraged. Donors can complete the medical history questionnaire online on the day of donation, before arriving to give blood. Donors and staff are required to wear masks; surfaces are cleaned between each donation.

Potential blood donors may volunteer beginning at age 16 with parental consent; 17-year-olds and up may give independently and there is no upper age limit for donating blood. For more information on donor eligibility and to make an appointment, call 1-800-366-2834 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 non-profit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 450,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements for their patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products.

Tu centro de sangre comunitario.

Source: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/maternal-morbidity-mortality/conditioninfo/causes