Red Cross Has an Urgent Need for Blood Donations
The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply. Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply. In addition, the Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4.
“Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” said Neil Tosuntikool, donor recruitment director of the Red Cross Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region. “Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks. If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.”
How to Help
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed. Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world.
Who Blood Donations Help
Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.
Because of generous donors, the Red Cross is able to provide blood products to patients like 11-year-old Mae Rainey, who needs regular blood transfusions as part of her treatment for a blood disorder. “I am very grateful for the opportunities that the Red Cross has given us to get her to her healthiest state,” said Caleb Rainey, Mae’s older brother. Watch Mae’s story to learn how blood donations can make a lifesaving difference.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Lincoln
Lincoln City
7/14/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Oceanlake Christian Church, 2100 21st Street NE
Newport
7/20/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fred Meyer Newport, 150 NE 20th Street
7/21/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., South Beach Church, 3335 S Coast Hwy
Siletz
7/12/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tribal Health Clinic, 200 Gwee Shut Rd., PO Box 320
Waldport
7/13/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Community Presbyterian Church, 485 NE Bay Street, P.O. Box 520
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Benton
Corvallis
7/6/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 114 SW 8th St
7/7/2016: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Alternative Co-Op, 1007 SE 3rd Street
7/8/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Osborn Aquatic Center, 1940 NW Highland Dr
7/11/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First United Methodist Church Community Center, 1165 NW Monroe Ave.
7/12/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Dr.
7/19/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 NW 35th St
7/22/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Corvallis Fire Department, 400 NW Harrison Blvd
7/23/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Allann Bros Coffee, 922 NW Circle Blvd Suite 130
7/25/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church Community Center, 1165 NW Monroe Ave.
Monroe
7/13/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Monroe Church of Christ, 180 S 6th, PO Box 237
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Coos
Bandon
7/14/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Bandon Senior Center – The Barn, 1100 W 11th St
Coquille
7/12/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Pioneer United Methodist Church, 180 N Baxter
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Douglas
Canyonville
7/22/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Canyonville City Hill, 250 N Main St
Glendale
7/15/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Umpqua Bank, 251 Pacific Ave
Myrtle Creek
7/20/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Elks Lodge #1943, 106 S Main St
Riddle
7/22/2016: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., C & D Lumber, 1182 Pruner Rd
Roseburg
7/15/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
7/18/2016: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
7/21/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Atrio Health Plans, 2270 NW Aviation Drive, Suite 3
7/22/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
7/25/2016: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
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Linn
Albany
7/13/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 105 Opal Court NE
7/14/2016: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Millersburg City Hall, 4222 Old Salem Rd NE
7/14/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sportsman’s Warehouse, 1351 Waverly Drive SE
7/15/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1115 28th Ave SW
7/18/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Boys and Girls Club, 1215 SE Hill St
7/20/2016: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., LBCC – Calapooia Center, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW
7/20/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Grace Point Church of the Nazarene, 230 Clover Ridge Road
7/21/2016: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., LBCC – Calapooia Center, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW
7/22/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1910 SE 34th Ave., P.O. Box 487
Lebanon
7/16/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mega Foods, 1950 Main St
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
Information provided by Red Cross
