Marsh Regional Blood Center holds community blood drives; maintains COVID-19 precautions

Published 3:05 pm Thursday, July 16, 2020

JOHNSON CITY — To ensure the Appalachian Highlands has a sufficient supply of lifesaving blood donations, Marsh Regional Blood Center is continuing its community-wide blood drives.

Marsh Regional continues to take appropriate measures to reduce donors’ potential exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as extra disinfection and sanitization efforts and additional physical distancing precautions wherever possible.

COVID-19 does not pose any known risk to blood donors during the donation process or from attending blood drives, and blood donation centers always take steps to prevent team members and donors who are not feeling well or who have a fever from reaching the donor area.

Additionally, donors are required to wear a cloth face covering, such as homemade mask, bandana or buff, at all times on in collection centers or mobile units. If donors do not bring their own face covering, Marsh Regional will provide one.

All blood, platelet and convalescent plasma donations received until Friday, Aug. 14, will be entered to win a Yeti hard cooler prize pack.

Community blood drives will be held:

Thursday, July 16, 1-4 p.m.

United States Penitentiary Lee, Pennington Gap, Va.

Friday, July 17, 6-9 a.m. and 1:30-4 p.m.

Snap-On Tools, Elizabethton

Saturday, July 18, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

East Sullivan County Fire Department, Bristol, Tenn.

Monday, July 20, noon-6 p.m.

Morgan Memorial United Methodist Church, Rose Hill, Va.

Tuesday, July 21, 1 -6 p.m.

Valley View Freewill Baptist Church, Clintwood, Va.

Tuesday, July 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

CVA Heart Institute, Kingsport

Tuesday, July 21, 1:30-5 p.m.

UPM Pharmaceuticals, Bristol, Tenn.

Wednesday, July 22, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sapling Grove Urgent Care, Bristol, Tenn.

Wednesday, July 22, 1-6:30 p.m.

St Anne Catholic Church, Bristol, Va.

Wednesday, July 22, 4-8 p.m.

Ridgeview Baptist Church, Church Hill

Wednesday, July 22, 4:30-8 p.m.

South Holston Ruritan, Bristol, Tenn.

Thursday, July 23, 9 a.m.- noon

Microporous, Piney Flats

Thursday, July 23, 1:30-4 p.m.

Marion Mold & Tool Inc., Marion, Va.

Thursday, July 23, 1:30-5 p.m.

Wolf Hills Fabricators and Komatsu Mining Corp., Abingdon, Va.

Friday, July 24, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Robinette Company, Bristol, Tenn.

Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Historical Society of Washington County (hosted by the Abingdon Rotary Club), Abingdon, Va.

As many as three lives can be saved each time someone donates blood— and donations to Marsh Regional stay local to help people in this region.

Marsh Regional supplies blood to 28 regional medical facilities, all regional cancer centers and five air rescue bases in Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.

To give blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. People with a cold, sore throat, fever, flu or fever blisters or who are taking antibiotics may not donate. Donors should eat a balanced meal before giving blood.

Additionally, Marsh Regional has updated its donor eligibility guidelines to reflect new federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. Donation deferrals have been modified for individuals who were previously unable to give due to time spent in certain European countries or on military bases in Europe. Potential donors should call 423-408-7500 to be pre-screened for eligibility.

In addition to the scheduled blood drives, donors are welcome at Marsh Regional’s collection centers: 111 W. Stone Drive, Suite 300, Kingsport; 2428 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City; and 1996 W. State St., Bristol. An appointment is required before giving blood at any blood center – donors should call 423-408-7500, 423-652-0014 or 423-282-7090 or visit www.marshblood.com for more information about appointments or to schedule a blood drive at a local business, church, school or community organization. Same-day blood donation appointments are frequently available.

All Ballad Health facilities are taking crucial safety precautions, including enhanced physical distancing measures, increased infection control and new processes and systems to safeguard patients’ care journeys.

At Ballad Health, you are #SafeWithUs.