Give Blood, Save Lives: Get Answers
This event will take place this Friday at FOX 44's parking lot, located at 8803 Woodway Drive. Let's take a look at some of the questions surrounding donating blood.
For some, donating blood brings a smile and a sense of satisfaction.
'It's a win-win for the donor and the patient, mainly because you're helping save someone's life,' said Clinton McCoy, Director of Mobile Recruitment & Regional Operations for Carter BloodCare.
This doesn't mean there aren't still questions and myths which might hold some people back from donating blood. One of the most common surrounds tattoos.
'One of the big ones is that I have a tattoo – I can't donate blood. That used to be true,' McCoy said. 'It used to be if you got a tattoo there was a risk for hepatitis, infection and things of that nature. The FDA has gone through it. The cleanliness and the testing that we have now is very precise, and there is no deferral for a tattoo as long as you got it in a state licensed facility. So again, the state is licensing you to say that this facility is clean and the risk is low, so it is now considered a low-risk behavior for infectious disease.'
McCoy says the biggest barrier involves just saying a few words that few people say.
'Nobody asks,' McCoy stressed. 'That's the number one reason. You ask somebody, 'Why haven't you donated blood?,' and most people will tell you, 'Nobody asked me to.' So that's our job today – to ask people to come out to donate blood.'
Carter BloodCare provides a Frequently Asked Questions page on its website to help you make a decision to save a life.
The FOX 44/Carter BloodCare Blood Drive will start at 7:30 a.m. and run until 6:30 p.m. For as long as supplies last, each donor will receive a coupon for a free pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream – 'A Pint for a Pint'.
While no appointment is necessary, you can schedule an appointment online here. You can also scan the QR code below to sign up.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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