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Critical Red Cross blood shortage prompts emergency call for donations

Last Updated on July 6, 2017 by cassnetwork

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — 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 Rodney Wilson, communications manager of the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the Red Cross. “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.

Who Blood Donations Help
Because of generous donors, the Red Cross is able to provide blood products to patients like husband and wife Michael and Tracy Spinner of Kokomo. The couple was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in 2016 which caused them both to need multiple blood transfusions. They may not be alive today without generous blood donors.

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 July 5-29:
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Carroll County

Burlington
7/11/2017: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Burlington Community Park, E 5th Street
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Cass County

Logansport
7/11/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Logansport High School, 1 Berry Lane
7/14/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Woodbridge Health Campus, 602 Woodbridge Avenue

Twelve Mile
7/26/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Twelve Mile Community Building, 8030 E SR 16
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Clinton County

Frankfort
7/13/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 352 W. Clinton Street
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Fulton County

Akron
7/7/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tippecanoe Valley High School, 8345 S State Rd 19

Rochester
7/21/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Talma Community Building, 6873 N SR 25
7/27/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Webb’s Family Pharmacy, 724 Main Street

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Howard County

Kokomo
7/13/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1967 W Blvd
7/19/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Chapel Hill Church, 2600 W Alto Rd
7/25/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Vincent Hospital, 1907 W Sycamore
7/25/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 3401 S Dixon Rd
7/26/2017: 4:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., Chrysler ITP 2, 3360 N US 31
7/26/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bible Baptist Church, 2635 S Dixon Road

Russiaville
7/15/2017: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Russiaville United Methodist Church, 180 North Union

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Miami County

Denver
7/13/2017: 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., North Miami Elementary School, 632 E 900 N
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Pulaski County

Francesville
7/18/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., West Central Elementary School, 1842 South US 421
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Wabash County

North Manchester
7/13/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Manchester Administration Offices (Old Jr. HS), 404 West 9th Street

Wabash
7/18/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 110 N. Cass St.
7/28/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wabash Parkview Hospital, 710 N. East St.
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White County

Monon
7/20/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monon Civic Center, 400 North Market Street

Wolcott
7/6/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Wolcott Park Community Building, 203 W Blake Street

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.

 

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