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Red Cross: Emergency blood shortage may delay medical procedures

Donors urged to give now as nation faces lowest number of blood donors in decades

Donors have the chance to help save lives, win trip to Super Bowl LVIII

Upcoming Red Cross blood donation opportunities for January:

January 9, 10:00 - 2:00, Community of Christ Church, 751 Shadwell Street, Flora

January 9, 11:00 - 5:00, Vandalia Moose Lodge, 328 South 3rd Street, Vandalia

January 10, 2:00 - 6:00, Brownstown Elementary School, 460 West South Street

January 11, 2:00 - 6:00, Ramsey Grade School, 702 West 6th Street

January 12, 1:30 - 5:30, Cornerstone Church, 3600 South Banker Street, Effingham

January 22, 2:00 - 6:00, Cumberland Elementary School, 1496 Illinois Route 121, Toledo

January 23, 2:30 - 6:30, Full Armor Christian Academy, 600 Erwin Street, Louisville

January 23, 1:30 - 6:30, Dutch Prairie Community, 983 North 1300th Street, Shobonier

January 24, 10:00 - 2:00, Illinois State Police (Bleed Blue Campaign), 401 Industrial Avenue Suite A, Effingham

January 29, 1:30 - 5:30, Wakefield Fire Station, 7403 County Road 300 East, Newton

January 30, 2:00 - 6:00, Effingham Event Center, 1501 West Fayette Avene, Effingham

The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.  The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.

Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%.  When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion.  Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals. 

“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross.  “More challenges may lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation.  Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”

Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage.  Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.  For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.