Did you know that every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood? The good news: Every time you donate blood — like at The Blood Connection’s new Lexington center — you can save up to 3 local lives.
At a center like this one, you can give 4 types of donations (as opposed to only being able to give whole blood at a mobile drive).
Here are those 4 donation types + who they help to save:
💉 Plasma
What: Liquid portion of blood that transports water + nutrients to the body’s tissues
Who it helps: Burn victims + those with bleeding disorders
Shelf life: 1 year
When + where you can donate: Every 28 days, only at centers
💉 Platelets
What: Small cell fragments in blood that help stop/prevent bleeding
Who it helps: Surgery, transplant + cancer patients
Shelf life: 5 days
When + where you can donate: Every 7 days, only at centers
💉 Red blood cells
What: A concentrated form of blood, a donation only containing red cells
Who it helps: Trauma, surgery, anemia, blood loss + blood disorder patients
Shelf life: 42 days
When + where you can donate: Every 112 days, in centers + select mobile drives
💉 Whole blood
What: A pint of blood contains red + white cells, platelets and plasma (quickest + most common donation type)
Who it helps: Trauma + surgery patients
Shelf life: 21-35 days
When + where you can donate: Every 56 days, in centers + mobile drives
DYK? July is one of the hardest months of the year for blood donations — and there is already an emergency need for blood — so The Blood Connection is thanking donors with some upcoming promotions:
- Chick-fil-A Cow Day | Today (Wed., July 14) | The Blood Connection, 5141 Sunset Blvd., Lexington | 7 a.m.-7 p.m. | Donors get a Chick-fil-A gift card in addition to their TBC Reward Points (which can be redeemed for an e-gift card of their choice).
- Red Lobster Blood Drive | Fri., July 16 | 10136 Two Notch Rd. | 3:30-8:30 p.m. | With blood drives happening at 17 Red Lobster locations statewide, all donors will receive a $20 Red Lobster gift card (so they can refuel with some Cheddar Bay Biscuits).
- Double TBC Reward Points | Every Sunday in July at the Lexington center | Donors receive double TBC Reward Points every Sunday in July.
Follow The Blood Connection on Facebook to stay in the loop on the latest promotions, and see hours, info + the online scheduling tool for their new Lexington center here. Ⓟ
