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 individuals 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 Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “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.”

Missing Types sees encouraging response, but all donors needed now
In June, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign to encourage donors – especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years – to give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months. Through the campaign, the letters A, B and O – letters that make up the main blood groups – disappeared from popular brands to symbolize what happens when blood goes missing from hospital shelves during blood shortages.

Despite an encouraging response to the campaign, blood donations still fell short of expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than needed, approximately 3050 fewer donations in the New York-Penn Blood Services Region, causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.

“Blood is only available when generous blood and platelet donors roll up a sleeve to give, and right now, all donors – especially those give have never given or haven’t given in a while – are urged to make an appointment to give today,” Numark added.

How to help
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.

Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this summer by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 9-31

**The Second Annual Herkimer Battle of the Badges is among the several blood drives in the Mohawk Valley this month. This special blood drive is happening on July 18 from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at the Herkimer VFW, 131 Mohawk Street, Herkimer. **

Utica Blood Donation Center
4685 Commercial Drive
New Hartford, NY 13413
Monday & Wednesday: 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday: 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Delaware
Delhi
7/10/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., State University of New York Delhi O’Connor Center for Community Engagement, 2 Main Street

Margaretville
7/19/2019: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Mountainside Residential Care Center, 42158 State Highway 28

Sidney
7/16/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sidney Elks Lodge, 104 River Street
7/20/2019: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., American Legion Post 183, 22 Union Street
7/24/2019: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., A.O. Fox Tri-Town Campus, 43 Pearl Street West

Walton
7/16/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pines Brook Church, 1444 Pines Brook Road
7/22/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Watershed Agricultural Council, 44 West Street
_______________

Herkimer
Dolgeville
7/23/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Dolgeville Fire Department, 20 South Helmer Avenue

Herkimer
7/18/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Herkimer Veterans of Foreign Wars, 131 Mohawk Street

Ilion
7/15/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Municipal Building, 49 Morgan Street

Little Falls
7/22/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church - Little Falls, 16 Jackson Street

Mohawk
7/25/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Blessed Sacrament Church, 71 East Main Street

Van Hornesville
7/25/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Owen D Young School, 2316 State Route 80
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Oneida
Barneveld
7/12/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Town of Trenton Municipal Center, 8520 Old Poland Road

Clinton
7/11/2019: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Schilling Burns Young Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 959, 48 Franklin Avenue

Rome
7/19/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Rome Memorial Hospital, 1500 North James Street
7/22/2019: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lowes, 1230 Erie Boulevard
7/24/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., BerkshireBank, 100 West Dominick Street
7/26/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St John's Lutheran Church, 502 West Chestnut Street

Sylvan Beach
7/26/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 1153 Clifford Avenue

Utica
7/24/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., ICAN, 310 Main Street
7/30/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Schuyler Commons 55+ Independent Living, 1776 Independence Square

Waterville
7/15/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Waterville Village Hall, 122 Barton Avenue

Westmoreland
7/19/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Westmoreland Fire Department, 100 Station Road
_______________

Otsego
Fly Creek
7/25/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fly Creek Fire Company, 857 County Hwy 26

Gilbertsville
7/8/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, State Highway 51

Laurens
7/30/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Laurens American Legion Post 1688, 11 Main Street

Morris
7/23/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Zion Episcopal Church, 162 Main Street

Oneonta
7/9/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Foothills Performing Arts & Civic Center, 24 Market Street
7/13/2019: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Main Street Baptist Church Briggs Hall, 333 Main Street
7/22/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Quality Inn, 5206 State Highway 23
7/29/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Salvation Army, 25 River Street
7/31/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., BJs Wholesale Club, 756 NY23
7/31/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street

Richfield Springs
7/15/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Richfield Springs Community Center, Walnut Street

Wells Bridge
7/23/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Wells Bridge Fire Department, 104 County Highway 4

West Oneonta
7/26/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., West Oneonta Fire Department, 2865 Coun

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