Red Cross blood supply drops below three-days!
Following a difficult Fourth of July week for blood and platelet donations and ongoing challenges finding new blood donors, the American Red Cross now faces a blood shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.
About 450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday with activities and travel. This led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients in a single week, causing the Red Cross to now have less than a three-day supply of most blood types available – and less than a two-day supply of type O blood – for patients. At least a five-day supply is desired.
“Medical emergencies and critical treatments don’t stop for holiday celebrations. Patients depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Right now, the Red Cross only has less than a three-day supply when we need a five-day supply to be prepared for all situations that require blood products. To help meet this need, we’ve added about 8,000 additional appointments at blood donation centers and community blood drives over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. But we need people to fill those appointments, please join us today.”
Missing Types sees encouraging response, but all donors needed now
In June, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign to encourage donors – especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years – to give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months. Through the campaign, the letters A, B and O – letters that make up the main blood groups – disappeared from popular brands to symbolize what happens when blood goes missing from hospital shelves during blood shortages.
Despite an encouraging response to the campaign, blood donations still fell short of expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than needed about 2,000 fewer here in the Carolinas Blood Services Region, and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.
“Blood is only available when generous blood and platelet donors roll up a sleeve to give, and right now, all donors – especially those give have never given or haven’t given in a while – are urged to make an appointment to give today,” Numark added.
How to help
Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to make an appointment to donate using the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.
Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this summer by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 9-31
Durham
7/9/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/10/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/11/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/12/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/13/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/14/2019: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pleasant Green United Methodist Church, 3005 Pleasant Green Road
7/15/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/16/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/16/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Plannernet, 79 TW Alexander Drive, Building 4501 Suite 300
7/17/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/18/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/18/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Imperial Center Winchester, 4309 Emperor Blvd., Suite 110
7/18/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Chick-fil-A Hillsborough Road, 3429 Hillsborough Road
7/19/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/22/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/23/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/23/2019: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Alfonso Elder Student Union, 1801 Fayettteville Street
7/24/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., County of Durham, 414 East Main Street
7/24/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/26/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/26/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Carolina Arbors, 357 Carolina Arbors Drive
7/28/2019: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/29/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/30/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
7/31/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Place
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Orange
Chapel Hill
7/9/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church – Chapel Hill, 800 Market Street
7/10/2019: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., SPACES, 1011 S. Hamilton Road, Suite 300
7/12/2019: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 S. Estes Drive
7/24/2019: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., The Cedars of Chapel Hill, 100 Cedar Club Circle
7/29/2019: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Lowe’s Home Improvement of Chapel Hill, 1801 Fordham Blvd
Efland
7/17/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Efland Ruritan Club, 3009 Forest Avenue
Hillsborough
7/25/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Piedmont Electric, 2500 NC 86 South
7/30/2019: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Orange County SportsPlex, 101 Meadowlands Drive
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Wake
Apex
7/20/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 581 New Hope Church Rd.
7/28/2019: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., WoodCreek Community Apex, 5200 Lockley Road
Cary
7/9/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/11/2019: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/12/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/13/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/14/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/15/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/16/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/18/2019: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/19/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/20/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/21/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/22/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/23/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/25/2019: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/26/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/27/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/28/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/29/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
7/30/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cary Blood Donation Center, 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150
Garner
7/27/2019: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Team Powersports, 222 US-70
Knightdale
7/11/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Faith Baptist Church, 2728 Marks Creek Rd.
Morrisville
7/24/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Poblocki Sign Company, LLC, 201 Kitty Hawk Drive
7/27/2019: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Triangle Wine Company Morrisville, 3735 Davis Dr.
Raleigh
7/9/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/10/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/11/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/11/2019: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/12/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/13/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/13/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Kadampa Center Buddhist Temple, 5412 Etta Burke Ct.
7/14/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/14/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Ch Raleigh, 112 S. Salisbury Street
7/15/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/15/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury St
7/15/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/16/2019: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Judicial Branch Wake County Courthouse, 316 Fayetteville St.
7/16/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/17/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/17/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, 3700 Computer Drive, Suite 100
7/18/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/18/2019: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/19/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/19/2019: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Auction Direct USA, 7601 Glenwood Ave.
7/20/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/21/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Church of the Good Shepherd, 125 Hillsborough St.
7/21/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/22/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/22/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/23/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/24/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/25/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/25/2019: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/26/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/27/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/28/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/29/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/29/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
7/30/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way
7/31/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Haywood Gym – NC Dept Health & Human Svcs, 805 Ruggles St., Haywood Gym
7/31/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 North Peartree Lane
Wake Forest
7/10/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., CenturyLink, 14111 Capital Blvd
7/19/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., PDQ – Wake Forest, 11690 Northpark Drive
7/19/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., St Catherines Catholic Church, 520 W. Holding Ave
7/30/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Ultra Electronics 3 Phoenix, 204 Capcom Avenue
Wendell
7/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wendell Baptist Church, 3651 Wendell Blvd
Zebulon
7/22/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Pilot Baptist Church, 8103 NC 39 Hwy S
7/22/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Zebulon United Methodist Church, 121 W Gannon Ave