TOLEDO, Ohio (July 5, 2016) — 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. 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.
“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 Christy Peters, External Communications Manager of the Western Lake Erie 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
Ohio
Fulton
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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Hancock
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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Henry
Liberty Center
7/6/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Liberty Center High School, 103 W. Young Street
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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Lucas
Toledo
7/5/2016: 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway
7/5/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Toledo Mud Hens, 406 Washington Street
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
Ottawa
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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Putnam
Miller City
7/5/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Miller City Sportsmans Club, 400 S. Main Street
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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Sandusky
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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Seneca
New Riegel
7/5/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., New Riegel American Legion, 17 S. Perry St.
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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Wood
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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Wyandot
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.
Michigan
Monroe
Dundee
7/5/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dundee Community Center, 242 Toledo Street
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
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.
