Bloodanooga, Chattanooga’s largest one-day community blood drive, will take place Tuesday. The goal is to collect 1,000 units of a blood in a single day. Donors can give between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. at the downtown location of Blood Assurance, 705 E. Fourth St., across from McKenzie Arena.
Bloodanooga was created to serve as a communitywide effort in maintaining a consistent blood supply for area hospitals, according to Linda Hisey, vice president of marketing and public relations. Currently, less than 10 percent of all eligible donors in the United States give blood.
Blood Assurance is the only provider of blood products for Chattanooga’s hospitals. Volunteer blood donations, not paid blood collections, are the only source of blood products used for patient transfusion, she said.
“This is a fun event, and we want residents to realize that the act of giving blood can be a fun, enjoyable experience,” she added.
The event will offer food donated by area restaurants and entertainment provided by local musicians.
In 2009, more than 1,000 residents participated in the first Bloodanooga, either by donating blood or volunteering at the event. Blood donations at Bloodanooga potentially impacted more than 2,000 area patients, Hisey said.
To make an appointment, visit www.blood anooga.org.