Critical Red Cross blood shortage prompts emergency call for donations
Give blood or platelets now and help save lives
SALT LAKE CITY (July 5, 2017) — 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 Carmen Madsen, Donor Recruitment director of the Lewis and Clark 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.
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 nearly 14,000 blood donations every day for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 5-25:
Bountiful
7/11/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Bountiful Stone Creek Stake, 990 North Chapel Drive
7/14/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., ARIIX, 563 W 500 S, Suite 300
Centerville
7/20/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Wells Fargo Bank, 32 West Parrish Lane
Clearfield
7/11/2017: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m., Syracuse Utah Lakeview Stake, 275 North 200 West
Kaysville
7/14/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Kaysville Stake, 1505 Whispering Meadow Lane
Layton
7/5/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/6/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/7/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/7/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Davis Hospital & Medical Center Professional Building, 1660 W Antelope Drive
7/8/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/10/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/11/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/12/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/13/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/13/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Layton North Stake, 1954 E. Antelope Dr.
7/14/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/14/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Layton Utah South Stake, 628 S Angel Street
7/15/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/17/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/18/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/19/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/20/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/21/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/22/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/24/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
7/25/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite F
North Salt Lake
7/19/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., North Salt Lake Utah Stake, 900 South Eaglepoint Drive
7/22/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Unity Baptist Church, 1170 West 1000 North
Syracuse
7/13/2017: 2 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Syracuse Utah Bluff Stake, 2339 W 1900 S
7/20/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Syracuse South Stake, 3065 South Bluff Road
Hooper
7/12/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Hooper Utah Pioneer Trail Stake, 4979 South 5100 West
North Ogden
7/7/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., North Ogden Utah Ben Lomond Stake, 3550 North 700 East
7/18/2017: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., North Ogden East Stake, 950 East 2850 North
Ogden
7/5/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Weber County School District Offices, 5320 Adams Avenue Parkway
7/8/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Smith's - North Ogden, 2434 North 400 East
7/11/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Staker and Parsons Companies, 2350 South 1900 West
7/11/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Teleperformance Ogden, 2261 Grant Ave
7/11/2017: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Ogden Utah University 2nd Stake, 880 Harrison Blvd
7/13/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., South Ogden Pleasant Valley Stake, 5735 South Crestwood Drive
7/13/2017: 2:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., North Ogden Utah Stake, 368 E. Elberta
7/21/2017: 9 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3329 Harrison Blvd.
West Haven
7/22/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Regal Country Building, 3939 West 4000 South
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.
