With the Texas Rangers on the road this weekend, Carter BloodCare will set up at Globe Life Field to try to reverse an ongoing shortage in blood donations. Carter BloodCare is hosting a blood drive 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"We are experiencing the biggest blood shortage our country has had in 30 years," says Carter BloodCare's Linda Goelzer.
Organizations like the Red Cross and Carter BloodCare have reported shortages as a result of the pandemic: Fewer people are donating and fewer offices and companies have been hosting blood drives. But as people start traveling again, the need for transfusions has increased with more trauma injuries. Goelzer says the combination could lead to hospitals delaying elective procedures.
"We are really, really in need of blood. A lot of people don't realize there are some surgeries that will be postponed if there's not enough blood," Goelzer says. "Then there are people who are waiting on regular blood donations because of cancer treatments, or they live with a blood disorder like sickle cell disease."
Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., people who donate at Globe Life Field can meet former Texas Ranger Mark McLemore. Steve Buechele will greet donors from 3-4 p.m. Friday.
All donors will receive a pair of Carter BloodCare/Texas Rangers socks "with baseballs and blood drops on them." Carter BloodCare is also giving all donors in September a commemorative t-shirt marking the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
"We're looking forward to people bringing friends, bring someone you know," Goelzer says. "Come on out with us. We're trying to collect at least 300 units of blood every day."
Donors must be 16 years old and can make an appointment by calling (800) 366-2834 or visiting carterbloodcare.org.
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Donors who are not fully vaccinated are asked to wear a mask except when their temperature is being taken during screening or while eating or drinking after the donation.
Carter BloodCare is testing blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Goelzer says people can learn whether they may have been exposed to virus but never had symptoms. She says the testing can also show whether someone is eligible to donate convalescent plasma for current patients in the hospital.
The blood drive takes place 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Globe Life Field. Parking is free in Lot A. The blood drive will take place in the All You Can Eat Deck in Sections 233 through 237 of the upper concourse.
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