VUMC sees critical blood shortages; special Predators blood drives added on Oct. 11 and 12

Due to the pandemic, there is a critical shortage of blood and blood products. The American Red Cross reports that individual donations and blood drives held by businesses and organizations are down drastically. To help, VUMC employees and the surrounding community can donate blood at one of the twice-weekly American Red Cross blood drives across several different VUMC locations. 

Nationwide blood shortages have been a problem since the beginning of the pandemic. The most recent COVID-19 surge has again limited the number of healthy people who can donate blood, either due to illness or to necessary quarantining procedures. Additionally, clinicians who help collect and process blood at the American Red Cross are dealing with staff shortages as COVID-19 continues to affect health care workers.

Two special Nashville Predators blood drives have been scheduled for Light Hall on Monday, Oct. 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All presenting donors on these two days will receive a Nashville Predators giveaway. To register to give at these drives, go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code Preds19.

Donors who give blood in October will receive a link by email for a free signature sandwich from Zaxby’s or a $5 e-gift card for another merchant. For more information, go to rcblood.org/zax.

To schedule an appointment for drives at Light Hall, go to redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code "Vandy19" or visit this sign-up link. 

• For drives at One Hundred Oaks, go to redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code "VUMC" or visit this sign-up link.
• Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital has a blood drive schedule for Oct. 12, noon-5 p.m. at a Red Cross Bus at the hospital, 1411 Baddour Parkway, Lebanon, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code "VanderbiltWilsonCo." VWCH has monthly blood drives scheduled on Nov. 9, Dec. 14, and Jan. 11.
• If on-campus drives are fully booked, you can find the nearest American Red Cross blood drive to you by visiting https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive and entering your ZIP code.

It's possible to streamline your donation with an online pre-donation reading and health history on donation day.

Blood donation is safe to do and an essential activity

The American Red Cross understands public health concerns regarding donating blood during the COVID-19 pandemic but wants to stress that donating blood is a safe process and that Red Cross blood drives have the highest safety standards. American Red Cross blood drives are essential and directly support clinical AND other emergency services remaining open, including for trauma and oncology patients. Over 6,000 blood drives and 200,000 donations have been canceled recently, creating a serious shortage. It is safe to donate at this time. 

Upcoming dates and times for Red Cross blood drives on the main VUMC campus: