Quarantine increases need for blood
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The director of the Warren County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Debby Maddux, said in response to the quarantine of 70 percent of the blood inventory late Sunday, which affects Middle Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri, an already scheduled blood drive is gaining community-wide attention.
She said although no immediate blood drives are being organized locally, Red Cross volunteers are hoping for 100 units of blood when a scheduled blood drive gets under way from noon to 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at Caney Fork Electric Cooperative. Maddux said typical drives net between 60 and 70 pints of blood.
The quarantine is the result of a white particulate found in blood bags collected in the Tennessee Valley Region that remained unidentified as of press time Tuesday.
“The information that I’ve gotten is that they’re trying to upgrade the quotas of all the scheduled blood drives,” Maddux said of warnings of a severe blood shortage and of Red Cross officials’ request for eligible donors to donate blood. Locals who would like to donate sooner than Feb. 14 may contact 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
As word spreads that the Red Cross needs blood and as Maddux said the blood supply was already low, the Southern Standard and Clear Channel Communications are partnering with the Red Cross.
The Standard will give away a free one-month subscription for anyone who donates blood that day, circulation director Steve Warner said.
For non-subscribers, a certificate will be issued and will need to be redeemed at the newspaper to receive four weeks of the award-winning publication for free. Those who already subscribe can still take advantage of the offer. Upon renewal, they will receive one month’s subscription for free.
Door prizes will also be available and Clear Channel plans to promote the event and broadcast live updates on WBMC 960 AM that day, operations manager Bryan Kell said.
“Together we’re hoping to help people have a good Valentine’s Day and help other people at the same time,” Warner said. “And what better gift for Valentine’s Day than the gift of life.”