American Red Cross urges public to work giving into the holiday weekend

Giving blood or platelets isn’t usually high on the family-fun agenda over the Labor Day holiday weekend, but American Red Cross officials are urging the public to do just that.

Officials said donations are down this time of year statewide as families are focused on end-of-summer and back-to-school activities instead.

A blood drive was held on a bus at the North Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson Shop at the Beach at 4002 U.S. 17 Business from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and officials are inviting any interested and eligible donors to give.

Officials said they will be taking walk-ins, but encourage people to make an appointment because of limited space.

The American Red Cross Blood Donation Center at 3681 Renee Dr. in Carolina Forest is open all holiday weekend from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. assisting donors giving platelets.

However, officials said the center only takes appointments for this type of donation as it is a two-hour process, but said those wanting to give this weekend can call the center to see if any cancellations have happened and schedule an appointment if there is an opening.

Eric Garner of the Red Cross South Carolina Region says the state needs to collect about 200 donations over the weekend, especially O negative, B negative and A negative. Platelet donors and those with type AB blood are continually needed.

Garner says this is a difficult time of year to collect blood because people are focused on other activities. He said thousands of people answered the urgent plea that Red Cross issued in early August but that more donations are still needed.

American Red Cross blood donation center at 3681 Renee Dr. will be open to receive blood donations Tuesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., officials said.

For more information about how to give blood, platelets, or monetarily and for more upcoming events, visit http:// http://www.redcross.org/local/sc/locations/eastern-sc. Interested donors can also find out more and schedule appointments by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 9:48 AM with the headline "American Red Cross urges public to work giving into the holiday weekend."