The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during Liver Awareness Month in October.
According to the American Liver Foundation, more than 6,000 liver transplants are performed each year in the U.S., making it the second most common transplant. Liver transplant patients may require in excess of 30 pints of blood during surgery. Volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need of transfusions during surgery.
Donors with all blood types are currently needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative. All those who attempt to donate blood during October will be eligible to win a $5,000 Visa gift card, courtesy of Suburban Propane.
Details: Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767 or for information about the American Liver Foundation visit liverfoundation.org.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Drew County
Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., University of Arkansas at Monticello
Grant County
Oct. 3 from 2 – 6 p.m., Walmart, Sheridan
Jefferson County
Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Southeast Arkansas College, Pine Bluff
Oct. 6 from 1 – 5 p.m., American Red Cross Blood Center, 1610 W. 42nd Ave., Pine Bluff