Red Cross issues urgent call for donors

Following a difficult Fourth of July week for blood and platelet donations and ongoing challenges finding new blood donors, the American Red Cross now faces a blood shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible people of all blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.

About 450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday with activities and travel. This led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients in a single week, causing the Red Cross to now have less than a three-day supply of most blood types available – and less than a two-day supply of type O blood – for patients. At least a five-day supply is desired.

“Medical emergencies and critical treatments don’t stop for holiday celebrations. Patients depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day,” said Bernadette Jay, external communications manager, Mid-Atlantic & Appalachian Blood Services Regions. “Right now, the Red Cross only has less than a three-day supply when we need a five-day supply to be prepared for all situations that require blood products. To help meet this need, we’ve added about 8,000 additional appointments at blood donation centers and community blood drives over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. But we need people to fill those appointments, please join us today.”

In June, through the Missing Types Campaign, the Red Cross encouraged donors – especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years – to give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months. Blood donations still fell short of expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than needed – 430 fewer in the Appalachian Blood Services Region and nearly 1,500 fewer donations in the Mid-Atlantic Blood Services Region, causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.

Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to make an appointment to donate using the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

Upcoming local blood donation opportunities this month include the following:

Glen Allen
Innsbrook Blood Donation Center | 4040 Cox Road | Hours of operation: Mon (11am-7pm); Wed (11am-7pm); Thur (9am-5pm); Fri (6:30am-2:30pm); Sat (6:30am-2:30pm); Sun (6:30am-2:30pm)
7/16/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Family Virginia Center Commons, 10101 Brook Rd,
7/17/2019: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle, P.C., 4701 Cox Road, Suite 400
7/19/2019: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mens Wellness Centers, 4050 Innslake Dr, #360

Henrico
7/11/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Goulet Pens, 1590 E Parham Rd
7/12/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Harbor Village Apartments, 2370 Harpoon Court
7/14/2019: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., All Saint's Episcopal Church, 8787 River Road
7/20/2019: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Knights of Columbus Pump Road, 2324 Pump Road
7/21/2019: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., KOC - St. Mary's Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Rd
7/27/2019: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Annual RVA Community Fun Day, 2999 Darbytown Rd.
7/30/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Family Fitness - Short Pump, 11760 West Broad St
Emerywood Blood Donation | 2825 Emerywood Pkwy | Hours of Operation: Mon (11am-7pm); Wed (11am-7pm); Thur (9am-5pm); Fri (6:30am-2:30pm); Sat (6:30am-2:30pm); Sun (6:30am-2:30pm)
7/21/2019: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Epiphany Lutheran Church, 1400 Horsepen Road
7/24/2019: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Paragon, 6802 Paragon Place, STE 600
7/25/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Landmark Property Services, Inc., 4901 Dickens Road, Ste 119

Chester
7/15/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., River's Bend Community Blood Drive, 12300 Hogans Alley
7/29/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Villages of Longmeadow HOA, 2819 Longmeadow Circle

Midlothian
7/20/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., AMC Movie Theater, 1100 Alverser Drive
7/25/2019: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Swift Creek Baptist Church, 7511 N. Spring Run Road
7/26/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., American Family Fitness - Swift Creek, 4751 Brad McNeer Parkway
7/31/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Midlothian Community, 13510 Westfield Rd

Crozier
7/11/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Academy For Staff Development, 1900 River Road West

Ashland
7/18/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hanover County Fire Training Center In Honor of Lt, Brad Clark, 13038 Winston Rd
7/22/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Patrick Henry YMCA, 217 Ashcake Rd

Hanover
7/13/2019: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Second Mount Zion Baptist Church, 31220 Old Dawn Rd

Mechanicsville
7/9/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Pebble Creek Homeowners Association, 6069 Green Haven Drive
7/11/2019: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Colonial Farm Credit, 7104 Mechanicsville Turnpike
7/18/2019: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Ashcreek Community, 10854 Linderwood Dr.
7/28/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Atlee Community Church, 7171 Verdi Lane
7/30/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., QubicaAMF, 8100 AMF Drive

Richmond
Arboretum Blood Donation Center | 9200 Arboretum Pkwy | Hours of operation : Mon (11am-7pm); Tues (11am-7pm); Thur (6:30am-2:30pm); Fri (6:30am-2:30pm); Sat (6:30am-2:30pm)
7/9/2019: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Greater Richmond Area Chapter, 420 East Cary Street
7/9/2019: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Meadowbrook High School, 4901 Cogbill Rd.
7/10/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Virginia's Community Colleges, 300 Arboretum Place, Suite 200
7/10/2019: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., UNOS, 700 North 4th Street
7/14/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., St. Paul's Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Rd.
7/16/2019: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Riverfront Plaza, 901 E Byrd Street
7/17/2019: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., VA State Corporation Commission, 1300 East Main St.,
7/17/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Children's Pavilion, 1000 E Broad St, 5th Floor, Room 5-086
7/19/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., VCU Health, Virginia Commonwealth University,
7/19/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., VCU Police Department, 224 E Broad St
7/22/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., CJW Medical Center- Johnston Willis Campus,
7/23/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., OrthoVirginia Boulders, 1115 Boulders Parkway, Suite 100
7/23/2019: 1:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., Coesia North America & Mexico, 501 Southlake Blvd
7/25/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., One James Center, 901 East Cary Street
7/29/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Manchester Family YMCA, 7540 Hull Street Road
7/31/2019: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., Bank of America Center, 1111 E. Main St.,
7/31/2019: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., NewMarket Corporation, 330 South 4th St.
7/31/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., ECPI University and MCI- Southside Campus, 800 Moorefield Park Dr
7/31/2019: 1:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., True Health Diagnostics, 737 North 5th Street, Suite 103
7/9/2019: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Arboretum Blood Donation Center, 9200 Arboretum Pkwy