Red Cross And Sport Clips Team Up in Chesco

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The American Red Cross and partner Sport Clips Haircuts—a supporter of childhood cancer research—are urging eligible donors to give blood during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September.

The Red Cross will be accepting blood donations at locations in West Chester, Phoenixville, Exton, Chester Springs, Devon, and other Chester County locations in early September. They say your donation can help a child survive cancer.

Thousands of children and adolescents in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and many will need blood products regularly during treatment, the Red Cross said this week.

In thanks for supporting patients in need of transfusion, those who come to give blood or platelets Sept. 1-30 will receive, via email, a coupon for a free Sport Clips haircut. Additionally, those who make a point to give around the Labor Day holiday, Sept. 4-8, will receive a pair of Red Cross branded socks, while supplies last.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 15,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year. Childhood cancer patients may need blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications.

Cancer and cancer treatments can put patients at risk for low red blood cell and platelet counts. Some types of chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, lowering the production of red blood cells and platelets. Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma attack the bone marrow as well. Blood and platelet transfusions can enable patients to receive critical treatments needed to fight and survive cancer.

Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Blood drives are also essential in helping ensure blood is available for patients this winter. To learn more and sign up to host a blood drive this fall and winter, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

Important COVID-19 information for donors
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.

Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may qualify to be convalescent plasma donors. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within 7 to 10 days through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. 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.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 1-15 in Chester County:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center – West Chester
523 E. Gay St., West Chester
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:45 a.m.-7:45 p.m. (whole blood and platelet pheresis)
Thursday: 11:45 a.m.-7:45 p.m. (whole blood and platelet pheresis)
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 7:15 a.m.-3 p.m. (whole blood and platelet pheresis)

West Chester
9/1/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Pleasant Grove Road
9/15/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Pleasant Grove Road
9/16/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Pleasant Grove Road

Phoenixville
9/1/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Calvary Bible Church, 110 Valley Park Road

Exton
9/2/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 720 E. Eagleview Blvd.
9/3/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 720 E. Eagleview Blvd.

Chester Springs
9/8/2020: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 2440 Conestoga Road

Devon
9/2/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St. Luke Lutheran Church, 203 N. Valley Forge Road
9/3/2020: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., St. Luke Lutheran Church, 203 N. Valley Forge Road
9/4/2020: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., St. Luke Lutheran Church, 203 N. Valley Forge Road
9/8/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St. Luke Lutheran Church, 203 N. Valley Forge Road
9/11/2020: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., St. Luke Lutheran Church, 203 N. Valley Forge Road

Downingtown
9/1/2020: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Calvary Fellowship Church, 95 W. Devon Drive
9/8/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Brandywine Grace Church, 40 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
9/9/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Brandywine Grace Church, 40 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
9/10/2020: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Brandywine Grace Church, 40 W. Pennsylvania Ave.

Parkesburg
9/8/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., VFW Post No. 4480, 406 Fourth Ave.
9/9/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., VFW Post No. 4480, 406 Fourth Ave.

Coatesville
9/4/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., YMCA Brandywine, 295 Hurley Road

West Grove
9/9/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, 300 State Road
9/10/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, 300 State Road
9/11/2020: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., Jennersville YMCA, 880 W. Baltimore Ave.

Avondale
9/1/2020: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Avondale Presbyterian Church, 420 Pennsylvania Ave.

This article originally appeared on the Phoenixville Patch