Volunteers Continue To Stream Into Blood Donation Centers

RALEIGH — More than two million people across the country have called 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a blood donation appointment. The American Red Cross is expanding the capability of 800-GIVE-LIFE to better facilitate the millions of donors who wish to give.

The Triangle Chapter of the American Red Cross is consolidating and increasing staffing for local blood collection centers and previously scheduled blood mobiles. However, the organization is currently unable to add additional blood drives, but plans to follow up as soon as possible.

The chapter says it will not turn anyone away from donating blood at Red Cross blood collection operations, but donors may experience a three- to four-hour delay due to the tremendous response.

The chapter has already filled most appointment slots for three Wake County blood collection centers for the next several weeks and is working to increase staffing at those sites; it is no longer offering appointments for these Wake County sites for September.

The Triangle chapter also says that it was able to sent 700 units of blood to New York and Washington, D.C. within a few hours after the attacks and 400 additional units several hours later.

The chapter is encouraging that:

Donors who are not already scheduled wait 5 to 8 weeks before giving. The concern is that not enough donors will be eligible then to meet local rising blood needs. It will also allow officials to better manage scheduled donors and staff.

Donors who have made appointments over the next several weeks, or who have upcoming blood mobiles within the next 56 days, honor those appointments and not donate earlier.

Here is a list of local donation centers:

CHAPEL HILL

Saturday, Sept. 22, 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Orange Co. Red Cross, Ephesus Church Road

Monday, Sept. 24, 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - UNC School of Public Health, Rosenau Hall (Parking/Shuttle from Manning by Dean E. Smith Center)

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2 - 6 p.m. - Orange Co. Red Cross, Ephesus Church Rd, 942-4862 (Parking/Shuttle from Dogwood Visitors Deck)

Thursday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - UNC General Administration Bldg. (located off of Hwy 54/Raleigh Road), 942-4862 (Parking/Shuttle from Manning by Dean E. Smith Center)