Freestone Medical Center hosts blood drive to save lives during state-wide, national blood emergency
Safe and available blood products can mean the difference between life and death for a patient who needs it. Blood transfusions are among the most commonly administered treatments for hospitalized patients. And right now is the time to make an appointment to give, when there is a state-wide, national blood emergency as a result of the unprecedented inclement weather event already affecting so many Texas residents.
Whether an individual is fighting the effects of COVID-19; hoping for an immunity boost from convalescent plasma; or requiring a transfusion following surgery, the community blood center is here to help. Carter BloodCare is only able to safeguard the blood supply for patients because of the voluntary, life-saving efforts of blood donors from the community.
In February, the season known for celebrating love, grateful patients say ‘I love you’ to their donors, without ever knowing who scheduled time in their day to help save their life.
Freestone Medical Center is hosting a drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 23, at 764 W. Commerce St. 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.
To reduce wait times, appointments are encouraged and blood 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; and surfaces are cleaned between each donor.
Carter BloodCare continues to offer COVID-19 antibody testing on successful donations, for a limited time. Donors can retrieve their results within one to two weeks through a secure portal on the blood center’s web site that donors set up following a donation.
Potential blood donors may volunteer beginning at age 16 with parental consent; 17-year-olds 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.
