(WTOL) - 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.
"We like to make sure we can always be there with that unit. That's why we're asking people to spend an hour of their time and have an impact on those lives," says Jennifer Hughes with the Red Cross.
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.
"Any type of blood right now is life-saving and life-changing. So, O negative, obviously the universal donor, but right now, because of the shortage, we are absolutely begging for all blood types to come out, join us, roll up those sleeves," said Hughes.
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.
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.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Swanton
7/11/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Swanton Alliance Church Epic Center, 124 N. Main Street
Delta
7/12/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Shiloh Christian Union Church, 2100 County Road 5
Archbold
7/19/2016: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Ruihley Park Pavilion, 320 W Holland Street
Wauseon
7/21/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 129 E. Elm
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Arlington
7/9/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Good Hope Lutheran Church, 300 S. Main St.
Findlay
7/15/2016: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., USW Local 207L Union Hall, 1130 Summit St.
7/19/2016: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., St. Marks United Methodist Church, 800 S. Main St.
7/20/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Parkview Christian Church, 15035 SR 12 East
7/21/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 2330 S. Main St.
7/22/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Courier, 701 W. Sandusky St.
7/25/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hancock County American Red Cross, 125 Fair St.
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Holgate
7/11/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Peter Lutheran Church, 710 E. Joe E. Brown
Deshler
7/18/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 230 Allendale Avenue
Napoleon
7/25/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Napoleon American Legion, 500 Glenwood
Ridgeville Corners
7/25/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ridgeville Corners American Legion, CR 19
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Toledo
7/6/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 911 Training Center, 2127 Jefferson Avenue
7/6/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/7/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/8/2016: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/9/2016: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/11/2016: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
Maumee
7/12/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Maumee American Legion, 204 Illinois Ave.
Toledo
7/12/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/13/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/14/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
Holland
7/15/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., 102.3 Proclaim FM, 7112 Angola Road
Sylvania
7/15/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., McCord Road Christian Church, 4765 McCord Road
Toledo
7/15/2016: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
Sylvania
7/16/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sylvania Senior Center, 7140 Sylvania Ave.
Toledo
7/16/2016: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/18/2016: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/18/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Toledo Hospital, 2142 N. Cove Blvd
7/19/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/20/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
Maumee
7/21/2016: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Professional Skills Institute, 1505 Holland Rd.
Oregon
7/21/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hope Community Church, 5650 Starr Ave.
Toledo
7/21/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/22/2016: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/23/2016: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/25/2016: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
Marblehead
7/6/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Marblehead VFW, 421 W. Main Street
Port Clinton
7/7/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., All State, 3979 Knoll Crest Drive
7/8/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., All State, 3979 Knoll Crest Drive
Elmore
7/11/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 19225 W. Witty
Port Clinton
7/11/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Edgewood Manor, 1330 South Fulton Street
Put in Bay
7/12/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Put-In-Bay Town Hall, 601 Catawba Avenue
Elmore
7/13/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Block, 320 Toledo Street
Oak Harbor
7/18/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Community Market Oak Harbor VFW, 251 W. Main Street
7/19/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ottawa County Fairgrounds Building B, 7870 W. State Route 163
Port Clinton
7/22/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Magruder Hospital, 615 Fulton Street
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Pandora
7/7/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Pandora United Methodist Church, 108 Washington
Kalida
7/19/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kalida High School, 301 N. Third Street
Columbus Grove
7/22/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Columbus Grove American Legion, 412 Plum
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Fremont
7/12/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Fremont Recreation Center, 600 St. Joseph St.
Clyde
7/13/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Mary's Catholic Church, 609 Vine St.
Fremont
7/14/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fremont Eagles, 2570 W State St
7/18/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fremont VFW, 204 Birchard Ave.
7/22/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Grace Community Church, 900 Smith Road
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Tiffin
7/8/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Family of Faith Lutheran Church, 870 W. Market Street, (Inside theTiffin Mall)
7/14/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 36 Melmore Street
Fostoria
7/18/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Fostoria Fire Hall, 233 W. South St.
Green Springs
7/18/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Green Springs United Methodist Church, 117 N Broadway
7/20/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Elmwood Healthcare at the Springs, 401 N. Broadway St.
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Bowling Green
7/8/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bowling Green State University, Bowen-Thompson Student Union
7/9/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bowling Green Covenant Church, 1165 Haskins Rd.
7/9/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bowling Green Eagles Club, 1163 North Main Street
7/13/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Christ's Church In Bowling Green, 14455 Campbell Hill Road
Rossford
7/16/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Local 8 Union Hall, 807 Lime City Road
Bowling Green
7/20/2016: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ohio Dept of Job and Family Services, 1928 E. Gypsy Lane Road
Portage
7/22/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 301 West Main Street
Perrysburg
7/23/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 6165 Levis Commons Blvd.
7/25/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Master, 28744 Simmons Rd
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Sycamore
7/7/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Mohawk Community Center, 295 St. Hwy. 231
Carey
7/11/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Carey Shrine Cafeteria, 315 Clay St.
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Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe
7/7/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., St. Michael Catholic Church, 502 W. Front Street
Petersburg
7/7/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Summerfield High School, 17555 Ida West Rd.
Monroe
7/8/2016: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Redeemer Fellowship Church, 5305 Evergreen Drive
7/9/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Marys Church, 127 N. Monroe Street
Milan
7/20/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Marble Memorial United Methodist, 8 Park Street
Temperance
7/20/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lambertville VFW, 4120 Piehl Road
Monroe
7/22/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monroe High School, 901 Herr Road
