Red Cross issues call for blood, platelet donors

Friday, July 7, 2017
The American Red Cross hosted a blood drive Thursday at the Missouri Department of Transportation in Sikeston. Here a donor prepares to give blood for an American Red Cross worker. (Kathleen Pinkley, Staff)

SIKESTON -- The American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets this summer.

On Wednesday, the American Red Cross said it's 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 Joe Zydlo, external communications manager of the Missouri-Illinois 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."

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.

While the need for blood and platelets remains constant throughout the summer, the Red Cross also experiences a drastic decline in new donors.

Last summer, nearly one-third fewer new blood donors came out to give than during the rest of the year. Many schools where blood drives are held and where new donors give are out of session during the summer months.

Blood and platelet donations often do not keep pace with hospital demand during the summer months, but every day there are thousands of lives to help save. Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.

* Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.

* The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country.

Eligible donors of all blood types are needed to make a donation appointment now and help sustain a sufficient community blood supply.

* Donating blood is a relatively safe and easy process, and only takes about an hour.

* Scheduling an appointment is easy and fast through the Blood Donor App, online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

* Donors of all blood types are needed to help save lives.

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.

Locally, blood drives are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 9 at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 10 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 10 at Chaffee High School Activity Center in Chaffee; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 14 at Bank of Advance in Advance; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 15 at First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 17 at SEMO Health Network in Sikeston; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 20 at US Bank in Sikeston; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 22 at Lawless Harley Davidson in Scott City.

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