Music Saves Lives Blood Drives
to be Held July 1 and 8
News Release: June 24, 2010
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


The American Red Cross will host Music Saves Lives blood drives on July 1, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Northampton Community College (Fowler Center location), 511 E. Third St., Bethlehem; and on July 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem.

All presenting donors at Music Saves Lives blood drives will receive a VIP Pass to the Vans Warped Tour in Scranton, Pa. on July 16. This special pass does not include concert admission, which must be purchased, but will allow donors access to special VIP areas where exclusive "meet and greets" with bands will take place. A complete list of bands can be found at www.warpedtour.com. Also donors will be given a chance to win a Vans Warped Tour Experience which includes a concert ticket and a VIP pass that enables special access to areas not open to the general public and are usually reserved for tour staff, bands, etc.

Blood donations are down and type O negative is still at the critical level. While all blood types are needed during the critical summer months, type O negative is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.

To donate blood and platelets through the American Red Cross, individuals must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. In Pennsylvania, 16-year-olds may donate blood provided they bring a signed parental consent form to the blood drive. Parental consent forms can be obtained from local high schools prior to the blood drives or directly from nursing supervisors at Red Cross drives. High school students and donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

To make an appointment, or for more information, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-432-8045 or visit online at redcrossblood.org.

About Music Saves Lives

Music Saves Lives is a program targeted at high school and college age individuals (ages 16 to 24) to help raise the awareness of the need for blood. High school and college students are some of the American Red Cross' most important blood donors. Typically, these groups tend not to donate over the summer when school is not in session, which is such a crucial time for the local blood supply. Almost 20 percent of our total blood collections come from young people like high school and college students.

Music Saves Lives has support from many top musical artists and national sponsors. Additionally, it targets specific outlets utilized by high school and college age individuals.


About the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 70,000 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.