As the holiday season draws nearer, giving blood might not be a high priority for residents but blood donations continue to be very important.
Last year, 5,413 units of blood were collected by the Red Cross in Union County. Because blood can be split into different components and one donation can be transfused into three people, the Union County drives could have impacted more than 16,000 individuals.
But that’s still not enough blood. In the United States, a blood transfusion is needed about every two seconds, and approximately 15 million units of whole blood are donated each year. Only approximately 5 percent of the population in the United States donates blood, though 50 percent of the population is eligible.
The following public blood drives are scheduled in Union County during November. Appointments are not required, but are recommended to your donation time quicker.
Nov. 17 – 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Hermon Baptist Church, 9713 Lancaster Highway, Waxhaw.
Nov. 20 – 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Weddington High School, 4901 Weddington Road, Weddington.
Two additional blood drives are scheduled in Anson County this month.
Nov. 18 – 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wadesboro Community, First Presbyterian Church, 208 S. Green Street, Wadesboro.
For more information on these blood drives or to schedule a blood drive, contact the American Red Cross, Union County chapter, at (704) 283-7402.
