KNOXVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – MEDIC Regional Blood Center has immediate need for O Positive donations.

WHO:             MEDIC Regional Blood Center

WHAT:            MEDIC Regional Blood Center has less than a 1-day supply of O Positive in inventory. There is no blood to import from other centers across the country. This is a national-level shortage.          

WHEN:            Immediate Need

WHERE:          ALL MEDIC Regional Blood Center Donor Centers and Community Drives

Downtown Knoxville – 1601 Ailor Avenue

Farragut – 11000 Kingston Pike

Athens – 213 E. Washington Avenue, Suite 104

Crossville – 79 S. Main Street

Location Hours, directions and Mobile Blood Drive List:  medicblood.org

Note: MEDIC is requiring all donors to wear a mask or face covering. If a donor does not have a mask or face covering, MEDIC will provide one.

Appointments can be made online at www.medicblood.org using the donate link. Appointments can also be made by calling 865-524-3074.

WHY:        MEDIC Regional Blood Center has seen an increase in demand for blood products and continues to see a decrease in blood donations. Currently, MEDIC has less than a 1-day supply of O Positive blood. MEDIC has queried other blood centers across the country, and they do not have the inventory to ship any O Positive blood to our area.

As a reminder, the blood on the shelves now is what would be used in a trauma event and it takes three days for donated blood to be processed and ready for distribution.    

OTHER:         Donors will receive a special edition MEDIC shirt and a Texas Roadhouse Appetizer coupon.

 WEBSITE:     www.medicblood.org

SOCIAL

MEDIA:       Facebook: @medicblood

Twitter: @medicblood

Instagram: @medicbloodcenter  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/22/2020-4PM)