Williamson County Chamber: Blood Assurance To Partner With Nashville Humane Association For Lifesaving Blood Drive

Press release from Williamson County Chamber:

October 15, 2021

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – To combat the low blood supply in Middle Tennessee and to help our four-legged friends, Blood Assurance is partnering with the Nashville Humane Association for an upcoming blood drive at a major event.

A bloodmobile will be on-site this Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Centennial Park in Nashville for the Humane Association’s annual Dog Day Festival. For each individual who donates blood at the event, Blood Assurance will make a $5 contribution to the animal rescue organization.

“This is truly a win-win,” said Max Winitz, public relations specialist for Blood Assurance. “Through our blood drive with the Nashville Humane Association, we are going to be able to support patients in our local hospitals, in addition to all the shelter pets in need of loving homes. This collaboration will save countless lives.”

The blood drive comes just days after Blood Assurance announced a dire need for type-O blood donors. As of Friday, the organization still has less than a one-day supply of O-negative and O-positive blood on its shelves.

“Fewer donors are coming out to give during this week, which is fall break” according to Dr. Liz Culler, Blood Assurance’s chief medical officer. “All O-positive units have either been shipped out or are about to be shipped out. We are asking all type-O community members, or people who do not know their blood type, to come and donate.”

Blood Assurance is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to all O-negative and O-positive individuals who donate at the Dog Day Festival. Blood donors are urged to visit bloodassurance.org/dogday1016 to schedule an appointment to donate at Saturday’s event. Walk-ins will also be accepted.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (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 iron prior to donating.

This press release was produced by Williamson County Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.