CLEVELAND — Amid both a local and national shortage of blood, the Cleveland Browns announced it will be hosting a blood drive at FirstEnergy Stadium on July 31.
The annual event will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the stadium’s KeyBank Club located on the south end of the complex. Parking is available at meters in front of the stadium.
The Cleveland Browns First and Ten Blood Drive has collected more than 11,000 pints of blood over the years.
Those who participate will receive a free commemorative T-shirt and be entered in a drawing for Browns memorabilia. Donors will also be given a $10 gift card to Amazon.com.
Those unable to attend the July 31 downtown can still participate during the week of July 25-31. Details on how to participate are available on the Browns’ website.
The American Red Cross has the following guidelines in order to donate blood:
- Be in good general health and feeling well
- Be at least 17 years old
- Weigh at least 110 pounds
- Have not donated blood in the last 56 days
The entire process takes roughly one hour, the American Red Cross said.
The Northern Region of Ohio chapter of the American Red Cross said hospitals are responding to an “unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries.” The organization said that it needs 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand.
