Nashville Predators and American Red Cross score with multi-city, record breaking blood drives Oct. 11 - Oct. 15

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 8, 2021 — The American Red Cross is continuing the partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation to host a multi-city blood drive Oct. 11 through Oct. 15.

All presenting donors who pre-schedule an appointment will receive a Predators foam hockey puck, and a Preds “Bleed Gold” t-shirt while supplies last. All presenting donors will be automatically entered into a drawing to win an official American Red Cross logo puck signed by a current Nashville Predators player from each blood drive location.

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give now.

“The Red Cross’s national blood inventory is the lowest it’s been at this time of year since 2015,” said Garry Allison, regional donor services executive with the Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region. “There’s an emergency need for blood donations. If you are healthy and eligible to donate, sign up with us and help us reach our goal. Our partnership with the Nashville Predators historically makes such an impact on supply in our communities to meet the emergency need for blood in our region.” Eighty percent of blood donated to the Red Cross is acquired from blood donations made at blood drives. The organization supplies 40 percent of blood across the nation.

How to donate blood

Simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, sponsor code: PREDS19 or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Health insights for donors
In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet, and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

Blood drive safety
The health and safety of everyone attending Red Cross blood drives across the country is a priority, especially as COVID-19 cases are surging again. As such, the Red Cross resumed requiring all blood donors, staff and others at our blood drives and donation centers to wear face masks regardless of their vaccination status.

Individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are still eligible to donate blood and platelets. Knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they receive is important in determining blood donation eligibility.

Nashville Predators Foundation blood donation opportunities Oct. 11 – Oct. 15:

Oct. 11, 2021
Ashland City Church of Christ
110 Cumberland Street
Ashland City, TN 37015
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Hendersonville Community Church
381 West Main Street
Hendersonville, TN 37075
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Faith Lutheran Church 
1655 Main Street
Lebanon, TN 37087
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott
1980 Providence Parkway
Mount Juliet, TN 37122
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sumner Regional Medical Center 
555 Hartsville Pike
Gallatin, TN 37066
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

East Tennessee American Red Cross 
6921 Middlebrook Pike
Knoxville, TN 37909
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center 
2215 Garland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

The Inn at Opryland 
2401 Music Valley Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Oct. 12, 2021 
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2215 Garland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church - Smyrna 
300 Sam Hagar Street 
Smyrna, TN 37167
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Christ Community Church 
1215 Hillsboro Road 
Franklin, TN 37069
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital 
1411 Baddour Parkway 
Lebanon, TN 37087
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Oct. 13, 2021
CoolSprings Galleria 
1800 Galleria Blvd. 
Franklin, TN 37067
12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Sumner Station 
225 Big Station Camp Blvd. Room 213
Gallatin, TN 37066
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention 
1021 Wilkinson Trace
Bowling Green, KY 42103
10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

City of Brentwood - Meeting Rooms 
8109 Concord Road
Brentwood, TN 37027
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Brentwood Hills Church of Christ
5120 Franklin Pike
Nashville, TN 37220
11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

World Outreach Church 
1921 New Salem Highway 
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Oct. 14, 2021
Ridgetop Volunteer Fire Department
1736 US- Hwy 41
Ridgetop, TN 37153
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Southeast Tennessee American Red Cross
4116 S. Access Road
Chattanooga, TN 37407
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Natchez Trace American Red Cross 
130 West Fowlkes Street Suite 100
Frankin, TN 37065
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Goodlettsville Church
227 S. Main Street
Goodlettsville, TN 37073
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Church Street Church of Christ
306 West Church Street
Lewisburg, TN 37092
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Ford Ice Center Bellevue
7639 B Highway 70 S
Nashville, TN 37222
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Oct. 15, 2021
Jamestown Community Center
629 N. Main Street
Jamestown, TN 38556
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Ford Ice Center Antioch
5264 Hickory Hollow Parkway
Antioch, TN 37013
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Brentwood Library
8109 Concord Way
Brentwood, TN 37027
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Vanderbilt Health 100 Oaks
719 Thompson Lane
Nashville, TN 37204
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.