Blood Assurance is calling on community members to make a blood donation at a local donor center or bloodmobile as soon as possible to help replenish the blood supply due to Monday’s trauma at 313 Talley Road involving a school bus accident. Blood Assurance is currently sending blood for the 23 children that were taken to hospitals that were on the Woodmore Elementary School bus 366 that was carrying students from the school when the accident happened and is in critical need for blood.
One person who went to give blood at the Hixson location of Blood Assurance said "the line was out the door.
There were only two workers taking blood."
The organization is asking the community to please consider taking 30 minutes out of their day to make a donation that will help save lives during this tragic time and meet the needs of the children as well as additional area hospital patients. Blood Assurance thanks all donors who choose to give to those in need.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 18 years old (17 or 16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids - avoiding caffeine - and eat a meal that is rich in protein prior to donating. For questions about donating blood, please call 800-962-0628. For more information on Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, please visit www.bloodassurance.org.
Blood Assurance's Chattanooga donor centers have extended hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p;m; Tuesday to accommodate all blood donors.
Officials said, "We greatly appreciate the community's support. Please call 800.962.0628 and schedule time to give blood this week at these locations:"
1748 Gunbarrel Rd.
Suite 104
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Chattanooga
705 East 4th Street
Chattanooga, TN 37403-1916
North River (Hixson, Tennessee)
1920 Northpoint Blvd., Suite A
Hixson, TN 37343-6700
The below locations hours are listed below, and are not planning to extend hours as of now:
Cleveland, Tennessee
201 Keith Street SW
Suite 19
Cleveland, TN 37311
9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
2720 Lafayette Rd.
Ft. Oglethorpe, GA 30742
9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.