Blood donations needed for Texas flooding

MILTON — OneBlood, the local nonprofit blood center serving the southeastern United States, is preparing to send blood to Texas and stands ready to assist until further notice.

To ensure enough blood is available locally and for Texas, OneBlood urges all eligible donors to donate blood as soon as possible. While all blood types are needed, there is an urgent call for O-negative and O-positive blood, as well as platelet and plasma donations.

The Big Red Bus will be available at the following Santa Rosa County dates and locations.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 8 — Santa Rosa High School and Adult School, 5330 Berryhill Road in Milton

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 11 — Locklin Technical Center, 5330 Berryhill Road in Milton

Devastating floods, massive destruction and continued record-setting rainfall is preventing blood centers in Texas from being able to collect blood.  This scenario is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, OneBlood and other blood centers are working with Blood Centers of America and America’s Blood Centers to provide needed blood.

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID is required.

Visit oneblood.org/donate-now or call 888-936-6283 for the hours and locations of OneBlood Donor Centers and Big Red Bus drives.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Blood donations needed for Texas flooding