Canyon Lake clubs to hold blood drive Oct. 12

Three Canyon Lake clubs have joined forces with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Oct. 12 at the Canyon Lake Golf & Country Club.

The blood drive is being sponsored by the Canyon Lake Women’s Golf Club, the Canyon Lake 9ers Golf Club and the Canyon Lake Ski Club. It will take place in the Magnolia Room from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information or to make an appointment online, visit www.redcrossblood.org with sponsor code CLGCC. 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.

“We are committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations,” Travis Montgomery, one of the drive organizers, said. “This blood drive is our way of giving our neighbors and friends the opportunity to help save lives.”

Blood is a perishable product that can only come from volunteer blood donors. With someone in the United States needing blood every two seconds, blood products must be constantly replenished, according to the Red Cross.

“We urge community members to donate blood and help ensure that patients in local hospitals have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs,” Travis said. “There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation may give someone a second chance at life.”

According to the Red Cross, donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative.

Additionally, the Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The results as to whether a donor has the antibodies are available online after the drive. The Red Cross said testing will provide critical insight into whether donors may have possibly been exposed to this coronavirus, as some COVID-19 carriers can be asymptomatic.