From staff reports
The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Healthy individuals are needed to give now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood.
A blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Jesse Greer Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1835 in Franklin.
Donating blood is a safe process, and Red Cross employees are following thorough safety protocols to help prevent the spread of any type of disease or infection.
Over the past month, out of an abundance of caution, the Red Cross has put additional precautions in place at blood drives to further protect the health and safety of blood donors.
Donors are asked to make an appointment before showing up to donate in order to manage the flow of donors appropriately in alignment with social distancing practices.
