Summertime is fun time, but it often leaves the area’s blood centers short on whole blood and blood supplies.
“We are always in need of O-negative and O-positive blood,” said Kristy Altman, vice president of communications and public relations with Medic Regional Blood Center. “O-negative is used in most emergency situations when medical staff don’t know the blood type of the patient.”
The Knoxville-based blood supplier is the primary supplier for 25 hospitals in 23 counties, including Cumberland Medical Center. A donor center is close to the hospital at 96 Hayes St., Suite 202, Crossville. The hospital will also have a mobile drive from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23.
While no special appeals for blood have been issued thus far in Crossville this summer, the American Red Cross is experiencing a shortage of donors in Crossville.
“We have a blood drive coming up this Monday, July 14, at the Shepherd of the Hills Church, Crossville,” said Julie Byers, Tennessee Region account manager for donor recruitment, in an appeal sent Tuesday to the Chronicle. “We added this drive a couple of weeks ago as the need increased. Right now there’s only one person signed up.”
The Shepherd of the Hills blood drive will be in the fellowship building at 1461 Sparta Hwy. Blood drive hours are 1:30-6:30. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter SOTHCrossville19 for the sponsor code.
Medic’s Crossville Donor Center is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-4:40 p.m. Walk-ins for whole-blood donations are accepted most days, but appointments are appreciated and may be made online at www.medicblood.org, via the Medic app or by calling 865-521-2656.
“We would love to see an uptick in platelet donors,” Altman said. “Platelets are only good for five days, so the need is ongoing and our donations in the last few weeks have been low.”
Platelets are blood cells that control clotting. There is a consistent need for platelets, which have a short shelf life but are needed to reduce risks of dangerous or fatal bleeding in patients with injuries or having surgery.
The Crossville Donor Center has a platelet technician who handles these types of donations from 8:30-11 a.m. weekdays. “Platelets are collected by appointment due to the process taking a little longer,” Altman said.
First-time platelet donors are asked to call 865-521-2683 to determine eligibility and for an appointment.
All platelet donors at Medic receive a $45 e-gift card and participate in a rewards program in which they receive punches for each visit and earn rewards along the way.
Medic has a number of promotions throughout the year to entice donors to give blood. One of its more popular is coming up July 21-25, when each person who makes a successful blood donation will receive a ticket to Dollywood.
Blood donations during this promotion are by appointment only. Deferred donors will receive a coupon for a free pizza.
The Dollywood ticket is valid until Jan. 4, 2026. Altman asked donors to expect extended wait times before their appointment during this promotion.