The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now and help save lives.
Blood donations have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations than needed and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply. The shortfall is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting any blood donations for more than four days.
"It's crucial that people donate now to meet the needs of patients every day and to be prepared for emergencies that require significant volumes of donated blood," said Joe Zydlo, External Communications Manager of the Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region. "Every day, blood and platelet donors can help save lives, and right now these heroes are needed to give as soon as possible."
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 has added more than 25,000 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.
Summer Months Lead to Shortage
Blood shortages often worsen around Independence Day due to many fewer volunteer-hosted blood drives at places of work, worship or community gathering, and this year is no exception. Nearly 700 fewer blood drives are scheduled during the Independence Day week than the weeks before and after the holiday.
Overall, the summer months are among the most challenging times of the year for blood and platelet donations as regular donors delay giving while they vacation and participate in summer activities. In a recent survey of Red Cross blood donors, more than 73 percent indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after Independence Day.
New donors and those who haven't given in a while are especially encouraged to roll up a sleeve and help save lives. Nearly one-third fewer new blood donors came out to give last summer than during the rest of the year due in part to schools - where blood drives are held and where new donors give - being out of session during the summer months.
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 nearly 14,000 blood donations every day for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Butler County: 12-4 p.m. July 24 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical center at 1500 N. Westwood in Poplar Bluff, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 28 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and 1-5 p.m. July 28 at the Cedargate Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff.
Carter County: 2-6 p.m. July 25 at the Carter County Senior Center at 14 Ball Park Road in Van Buren.
Dunklin County: 11:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett.
Scott County: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 22 at Lawless Harley Davidson at 2100 East Outer Road in Scott City, 1-5 p.m. July 17 at SEMO Health Network-Sikeston Medical Clinic at 200 Southland Drive and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 20 at US Bank at 625 North Main Street, both in Sikeston.
Stoddard County: 1-5 p.m. July 14 at Bank of Advance at 105 East Gabriel in Advance, 3-7 p.m. July 12 at the Bernie Community Center at 503 South Walnut in Bernie and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 15 at the First General Baptist Church at 501 Christian Drive in Bloomfield.
Wayne County: 2-6 p.m. July 14 at the Masonic Lodge at 505 North Main in Piedmont and 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 21 at the Wayne County Nutrition Center at Highway 49 in Williamsville.