The Red Cross escalated its call for blood and platelet
donors after a difficult Independence Day week for donations. More than 550
fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last
week than during a typical week as individuals across the country celebrated
the holiday and enjoyed summer activities. This could equate to as many as
15,000 fewer donations than needed, causing donations to now be distributed to
hospitals faster than they come in.
“Each and every day, individuals across the country depend
on blood and platelet donations for lifesaving treatments and emergency care,
so it’s critical that people donate now to meet these needs,” said Cliff
Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Whether you’ve never
donated or give a couple of times a year, you’re needed to give as soon as
possible to help save patient lives. Yours may be the donation a patient is
counting on.”
This need is especially critical for type O blood donors.
Type O is the most in-demand blood type and often the first be depleted from
hospital shelves during a shortage. Type O negative is the universal blood type
and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine
the blood type of patients in the most serious situations. Type O positive is
the most common blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any
blood type.
How to help
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Red Cross
Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross has added about 6,500 additional appointment
slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over
the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. Donation appointments and
completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to
help reduce the time it takes to donate.
Missing Types sees
encouraging increase in new donors – all donors needed now
Facing a decline of about 80,000 new Red Cross blood donors
each year for the past several years, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types
campaign in June to encourage new donors, and those who have not given
recently, to donate blood. While the campaign has already inspired thousands of
new donors to give, the Red Cross is now calling on all eligible blood and
platelet donors to roll up a sleeve as soon as possible to overcome the
emergency blood shortage.
Through the Missing Types campaign, which runs throughout
the summer, the letters A, B and O – letters used to identify blood types –
disappeared from corporate logos, celebrity social media accounts and favorite
websites to illustrate the critical role every blood donor plays in ensuring
blood is never missing from hospital shelves. Upcoming blood donation
opportunities July 9-31:
Allegany
Bolivar
7/10/2018: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bolivar Fire Department, 460
Main Street
Canaseraga
7/24/2018: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Legion, 83 West Main
Street
Cuba
7/12/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 17 South
Street
Houghton
7/13/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Houghton College - Gillette
Hall, Gillette Hall, Genesee Street
7/27/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Houghton Wesleyan Church, 9712
NY-19
Rushford
7/24/2018: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Town of Rushford, 8999 Main
Street
Wellsville
7/26/2018: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., YMCA-Wellsville, 133 Bolivar
Road
7/27/2018: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Wellsville Bible Church, 2896
New York 417
Cattaraugus
Conewango Valley
7/16/2018: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m., Conewango Fire Hall, 12447
Northeast Road
Ellicottville
7/16/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Paul's Lutheran Church, 6360
Route 242 East
Franklinville
7/20/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Franklinville Fire Hall, 75
North Main Street
Machias
7/24/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Pines Healthcare and
Rehabilitation Center, 9822 Route 16
Olean
7/9/2018: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 209 West State
Street
7/14/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Stephen's Episcopal Church,
109 South Barry Street
7/26/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cattaraugus County Building, 1
Leo Moss Drive
Randolph
7/25/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Randolph Fire Hall, 70 Main
Street
Salamanca
7/13/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Our Lady Peace-Holy Cross
Church, 274 Broad Street
West Valley
7/11/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St Johns Church, 5381 Depot
Street
Wyoming
Arcade
7/17/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Hope Lutheran Church, 2
East Main Street
Strykersville
7/19/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Strykersville Fire Hall, 594
Minkel Road
Warsaw
7/9/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Moose Club, 13 Frank Street
