Red Cross issues urgent plea for blood donations

The American Red Cross Northwest region issued an emergency call for blood and platelets Tuesday, 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, officials said.

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 afterJuly 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 Neil Tosuntikool, donor recruitment director of the Red Cross Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region.

“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:

Crook County

Prineville

7/6/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Elks Lodge 1814, 151 N Main St

7/15/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., LDS – Prineville Ward, 333 SE Idlewood

7/22/2016: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Crook County Library, 175 NW Meadow Lakes Dr

Deschutes County

Bend

7/5/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/6/2016: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/7/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Central OR Community College Campus Center, 2600 NW College Way

7/7/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St

7/8/2016: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/9/2016: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/11/2016: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/12/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/13/2016: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/14/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/14/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., LDS – Mtn View Ward, 1260 NE Thompson

7/15/2016: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/18/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., ODOT District 10, 63055 N Hwy 97

7/18/2016: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/19/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/20/2016: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/21/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

7/22/2016: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110

La Pine

7/11/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 52315 Huntington Road

7/15/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Cascade Bible Church, 52410 Pine Dr

Redmond

7/5/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Fred Meyer Store 650, 944 SW Veterans Way

7/5/2016: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., LDS – Redmond OR Stake, 450 SW Rimrock

7/13/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Highland Baptist Church, 3100 SW Highland Ave

7/19/2016: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., LDS – Redmond OR Stake, 450 SW Rimrock

7/20/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., VFW 4108 Redmond, 1836 SW Veterans Way, PO Box 1685

7/21/2016: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., American Legion Post 044, 704 SW 8th St

Jefferson County

Madras

7/12/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bright Wood Main Office, 335 NW Hess Street, P.O. Box 828

7/20/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Jefferson County Fire District, 765 S Adams Dr

7/22/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Central Oregon Community College Madras, 1170 E Ashwood Ave

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.