(Jan. 20, 2020) — The American Red Cross has extended its urgent call for donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets. With influenza escalating across the country and preventing some donors from giving, and winter weather threatening to cancel blood drives, the Red Cross now has a critical shortage of type O blood and urgently needs donors to restock the shelves.
O so needed
Currently, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O blood available for patient emergencies and medical treatments. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type and can be given to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. While just 7% of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, it can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what hospital staff reach for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type.
Help replenish the blood supply
Every day, the Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood donations and more than 2,600 platelet donations for patients who rely on blood to survive. Shortfalls in donations can cause delays in essential medical care for patients like 12-year-old Dagan Hawkins.
Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in November, Dagan has required platelet and blood transfusions during his cancer treatments. “There was a time when they needed to have blood products delivered from another hospital because they were unavailable there,” said Dustin Hawkins, Dagan’s father.
Donors of all blood types – especially types O positive and O negative – are urged to make an appointment to give blood now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
American Legion, 211 South 7th Mayfield, KY 42066
1/21/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Caledonia Community Church, 10076 State Hwy 37 Olmsted, IL 62970
2/5/2020: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Calvary Baptist Church, 121 Kentucky Ave. Princeton, KY 42445
2/6/2020: noon – 6 p.m.
Camden Church of Christ, 1285 U.S. 70 Bypass Camden, TN 38320
2/14/2020: noon – 6 p.m.
Church Street Church of Christ, 305 West Church St. Lewisburg, TN 37091
2/13/2020: 1 – 5 p.m.
First Baptist Church, 307 Massac Creek Road Metropolis, IL 62960
2/10/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church, Monroe and Jefferson Golconda, IL 62938
2/3/2020: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
First Christian Church, 415 Audubon Drive Paducah, KY 42001
2/3/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church, 1601 Main St. Murray, KY 42071
2/13/2020: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 210 South Washington St. Clinton, KY 42031
1/27/2020: noon – 6 p.m.
Gospel Mission Worship Center, 6905 Benton Road Paducah, KY 42003
2/14/2020: noon – 5 p.m.
Lake County High School, 300 Cochran St. Tiptonville, TN 38079
1/29/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Marshall County High School, 416 High School Road Benton, KY 42025
1/23/2020: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Mayfield City Hall, 211 East Broadway Mayfield, KY 42066
1/28/2020: 8 a.m. – noon
Mayfield City Hall, 211 East Broadway Mayfield, KY 42066
1/28/2020: noon – 4 p.m.
Mayfield Middle School, 112 West College St. Mayfield, KY 42066
1/31/2020: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Murray Middle School, 801 Main St. Murray, KY 42071
1/31/2020: 1- 6 p.m.
Murray State University, Chestnut St. Murray, KY 42071
2/10/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Murray State University, Chestnut St. Murray, KY 42071
2/11/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Paducah Blood Donation Center, 4635 Falconcrest Drive Paducah , KY 42001
1/21/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
1/23/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
1/24/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
1/25/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
1/26/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
1/27/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
1/28/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
1/30/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
1/31/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
2/1/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
2/2/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
2/3/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
2/4/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
2/6/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
2/7/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
2/8/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
2/9/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
2/10/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
2/11/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
2/13/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
2/14/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
2/15/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Savannah Church of Christ, 1175 Pickwick Road Savannah, TN 38372
2/7/2020: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Shawnee Community College, 8364 Shawnee College Road Ullin, IL 62992
2/12/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
West Kentucky Community & Technical College, 4810 Alben Barkley Dr. Paducah, KY 42001
1/29/2020: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
How to donate blood
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.