Brecksville’s Frequent Blood Drives Help the Red Cross Meet Local Needs

“Urgent Need!”

“Blood Donors Needed”

These phrases, along with the recognizable American Red Cross logo, are a common sight in Brecksville.

According to the American Red Cross, 58 blood drives were held in Brecksville from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, the organization's fiscal year. The blood drives resulted in 2,212 “productive procedures” – procedures where the standard pint of blood was able to be collected and separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma, Communications Manager for the Northern Ohio Blood Services Region Christy Chapman said in an email.

During that same time period, 59,276 procedures were completed throughout all of Cuyahoga County. That means nearly 4 percent of the blood collected in the county came from Brecksville. Chapman said that communities with regular blood drives, like Brecksville, are “vital” in helping the Red Cross meet the needs of people in the area.

According to the American Red Cross website, there are four more blood drives scheduled in Brecksville for the remainder of 2011, with a few more in nearby cities like Broadview Heights. The next one is scheduled for 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the .