Have a heart – make an appointment to donate blood with Carter BloodCare

Heart disease never stops taking lives, regardless of time of day, month or year. It remains the number one killer of women and men, and patients undergoing heart surgeries can require multiple blood transfusions. This February, during American Heart Month, Carter BloodCare reminds the community that heart surgery patients need blood to survive. The only source of that blood is from generous blood donors.

The local blood supply for hospital patients has never returned to pre-pandemic levels, and because of this, blood donors are urgently needed now. Those eligible to donate are asked to try to do it at least twice in 2022. If all eligible donors gave at least twice, there would seldom be a shortage.

HealthCARE Express Urgent Care is hosting a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at 1004 S. Jefferson Avenue in the parking lot on the Carter BloodCare bus. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Lexie Cook at (903) 306-7712.

Titus Regional Medical Center is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at 2001 N. Jefferson Avenue in the parking lot on the Carter BloodCare bus. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Glenda Strain at (903) 577-6111.

Super 1 Foods is hosting a recurring blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at 602 S. Jefferson Avenue in the parking lot on the Carter BloodCare bus. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Donna Wagner at (903) 574-4998.

Donors can complete the medical history questionnaire online on the day of donation, before arriving to give blood. People with and without COVID-19 vaccinations are both eligible to donate blood.

Carter BloodCare staff and unvaccinated donors are required to wear facial coverings at blood drives or donation centers, except when temperature is taken during screening, or when eating and drinking after the donation. Vaccinated donors are strongly encouraged to continue wearing masks. Carter BloodCare will comply with required mask mandates, as applicable.

Potential blood donors may volunteer at age 16 with parental consent; 17-yearolds can give independently and there is no upper age limit. For more information on donor eligibility and to make an appointment, call or text 800-366-2834 or visit CarterBloodCare.org.