Critical shortage of blood and blood products continues; emergency blood drive set for tomorrow in Light Hall

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.

Patients of Vanderbilt University Medical Center are Middle Tennessee’s largest consumers of blood through the unique, life-saving services VUMC provides including Level I trauma care, burn care, solid organ transplants and other life-saving procedures.

To help, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Red Cross will hold a special blood drive in 201 Light Hall. You can register to donate blood on Wednesday, or future dates, by going here: 

https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=vandy19

Despite this special drive, because of the pandemic’s ongoing impact on donations, an urgent need for blood and blood products will continue.

If you are unable to donate on Wednesday, the Red Cross is hosting blood drives at VUMC on the following dates- Sept. 28, Sept. 29, Sept. 30, Oct. 5, Oct. 6, Oct. 7, Oct. 11, Oct. 12, Oct. 27, Oct. 28, Oct. 29, and Nov. 2.