Last Updated on July 5, 2016 by cassnetwork
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — 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 Rodney Wilson, communications manager of Red Cross Blood Services. “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:
Blackford County
Hartford City
7/8/2016: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Church of the Nazarene of Hartford City, 1402 W Water Street
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Boone County
Lebanon
7/16/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Freedom Church, 2061 Indianapolis Ave
Whitestown
7/9/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Traders Point Christian Church, 6590 S. Indianapolis Road
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Carroll County
Delphi
7/21/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Honan Hall, Monroe and Union St
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Cass County
Galveston
7/26/2016: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Galveston United Methodist Church, 515 S Maple
Logansport
7/15/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Trine University, 421 E. Broadway
7/18/2016: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., B- K Rootbeer East Inc., 2320 E. Market Street
7/18/2016: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Moose Lodge 232, 900 E. Main Street
7/21/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Logansport Mall, 3900 E. Market Street
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Delaware County
Muncie
7/28/2016: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Glad Tidings Church, 3001 S Burlington Drive
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Fulton County
Akron
7/21/2016: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Akron United Methodist Church, 121 North Mishawaka
Rochester
7/5/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Woodlawn Hospital, 1400 E. Ninth St.
7/14/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Talma Community Building, 6873 N SR 25
7/19/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., St. Joseph Parish Hall, 1310 Main St.
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Grant County
Gas City
7/27/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Gas City Rescue Squad Building, 5050 E 500 S
Marion
7/30/2016: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Brandt’s Harley Davidson, 6333 E Stelzer Drive
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Hamilton County
Fishers
7/30/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fishers YMCA, 9012 East 126th Street
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Howard County
Kokomo
7/12/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Vincent Hospital, 1907 W Sycamore
7/14/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Chapel Hill Church, 2600 W Alto Rd
7/19/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Crossroads Community Church – Kokomo, 4254 S 00 EW Road
7/23/2016: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Bethany Fellowship School, 600E 5169N
7/26/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 2734 S Washington St
7/26/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Vincent Hospital, 1907 W Sycamore
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Jay County
Portland
7/22/2016: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Jay County Hospital, 500 W Votaw
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Madison County
Anderson
7/7/2016: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lowes Warehouse, 3335 S Scatterfield Road
7/8/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hoosier Park, 4500 Dan Patch Circle
7/12/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Ponderosa Steakhouse, 5009 S Scatterfield Road
Pendleton
7/5/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Pendleton Correctional Facility, 4490 W. Reformatory Road
7/22/2016: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility, 9310 S SR 67
7/25/2016: 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Fall Creek Christian Church, 1102 W 700 S
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Marion County
Indianapolis
7/6/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., St. Vincent Hospital, 2000 West 86th Street
7/7/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Granite City Food and Brewery, 150 West 96th Street
7/12/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Fortune Family Building, 1510 North Meridian
7/13/2016: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., IU Health University Hospital, 550 University Blvd
7/29/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., IndyStar, 130 S. Meridian Street
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Miami County
Denver
7/18/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Denver, 111 N Yorick
Peru
7/16/2016: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Moose Lodge Family Center #249, 110 N. Broadway
7/27/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Parkview United Methodist Church, 1785 Indiana 19
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Tippecanoe County
Lafayette
7/8/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., IU Health Arnett Hospital, 5165 McCarty Lane
West Lafayette
7/6/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., West Lafayette Police Department, 711 West Navajo Street
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Wabash County
North Manchester
7/7/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Timbercrest Senior Living Community, 2201 East Street
7/21/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 Beckley Street
Wabash
7/19/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 110 N. Cass St.
7/20/2016: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Miller’s Merry Manor East, 1900 Alber Street
7/27/2016: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wabash Parkview Hospital, 710 N. East St.
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White County
Monon
7/7/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monon Civic Center, 400 North Market Street
Wolcott
7/13/2016: 11 a.m. – 3 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.