The Southeastern Michigan branch of the American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive on Wednesday, September 7 from 8 a.m. until 7:45 p.m. at the Costick Center. It's located at 28600 Eleven Mile Road in Farmington Hills.
The Blood Drive on September 7 is the annual "Battle of the Badges," a friendly competition between the Farmington Hills Police and Fire Departments. Donors can cast a "vote" with their blood donation to help raise the tally of either department.
During the summer months, there is a significant increase in the need for blood, but unfortunately there is a decrease in the number of donations. September blood drives help to replenish local inventories that have fallen to critically low levels. All blood types are needed, with Type O in especially high demand. Type O blood can be transfused to patients in other blood groups and is used in most emergency trauma cases when a patient's blood type isn't known.
Hospitals in southeast Michigan require over 600 units of blood each day to meet patient needs. Thousands of patients in nearly 70 Michigan hospitals are dependent on blood for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, for surgeries and organ transplants, and for emergency and trauma care.
To make an appointment to donate on September 7, call 866-236-3276 or register online at www.redcrossblood.org. Enter the sponsor code costickcenter and follow the instructions to set up an appointment. Giving blood takes approximately one hour.
Donors must be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be 17 years of age or older. (If a parent is present to fill out a permission form on the day of the blood drive, 16-year-olds will be allowed to donate blood.) Please be aware that you must wait at least eight weeks between donations of whole blood and 16 weeks between double red cell donations.
For more information, call 313-549-7054 or visit http://www.redcrossblood.org./
