OneBlood urges Floridians to donate blood during America’s patriotic week

In this April 22, 2020 photo provided by New York Blood Center Enterprises, Aubrie Cresswell, 24, donates convalescent plasma at the Blood Bank of Delmarva Christiana Donor Center in suburban Newark, Del. “It’s, I think, our job as humans to step forward and help in society,” said Cresswell who has donated three times and counting. One donation was shipped to a hospitalized friend of a friend, and “it brought me to tears. I was like, overwhelmed with it just because the family was really thankful.” Image via New York Blood Center Enterprises via AP

During the week celebrating America’s red, white and blue roots, OneBlood is encouraging Floridians to give more red surrounding the Independence Day Holiday.

OneBlood, with its headquarters in Orlando, is urging residents throughout the state to donate blood at OneBlood donor centers or on a Big Red Bus from July 1 to July 5. The Big Red Bus is a mobile unit that travels from town to town to assist people who want to donate blood.

OneBlood officials say the blood donations “help patients in our hospitals during the summer months when blood donation collections are challenging for blood centers.”

When residents give blood at one of the OneBlood donor centers, they’ll get a free OneBlood 4th of July T-shirt, a $20 eGift card, and a wellness checkup.

There are donation centers in many Florida counties and setting up appointments is relatively convenient by clicking on the county you want to donate to. Many counties have multiple locations to accept donors at their scheduled times.

The blood donation process is becoming even more personalized these days. OneBlood officials say they even allow donors to track their donations to find out where they end up.

“My OneBlood Journey is a program that will notify you when your donation is on its way to a hospital, and will even let you know which hospital your donation is going to,” the OneBlood website explains. “Next time you donate, look out for your OneBlood Journey email to see what hospital your donation was sent to.”

While OneBlood has numerous offices and clinics throughout Florida for people to donate blood, the organization has a significantly larger regional impact.

“OneBlood provides lifesaving products to over 250 hospitals in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas,” officials with the organization said. The organization also has approximately 250 Big Red Bus units to provide more mobile access.

The organization requires donors to be relatively healthy, at least 16 years old, and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.