The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood and platelet shortage and asks the public to book a time to give as soon as possible. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets. The Red Cross offers three ways to make a donation appointment that can help save lives:
Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App
Visit RedCrossBlood.org
Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
The Red Cross experienced a significant blood and platelet donation shortfall in August, contributing to the current blood and platelet shortage. To ensure the blood supply recovers, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet hospital and patient needs. “When blood and platelet supplies drop to critical levels, it makes hospitals and the patients they are treating vulnerable – especially if there is a major accident or emergency medical procedure that requires large quantities of blood during a disaster,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross. “A single car accident victim can use as much as 100 units of blood. By making and keeping donation appointments, donors can help keep hospital shelves stocked with blood products and ensure patients have access to the timely care they deserve.” As a thank-you, those who come to give Oct. 1-20, 2023, will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.
Unique challenges to blood supply In late summer, the Red Cross national blood supply dropped by about 25% on the heels of one of the busiest travel seasons and the beginning of back-to-school activities. As people settle back into fall school and work routines, a unique challenge to the blood supply remains – many employees continue to work from home or in a hybrid capacity, reducing the number of opportunities to give blood at business- sponsored blood drives. In fact, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800,000 blood donations were made at blood drives hosted by businesses. Last year, the Red Cross saw only about 500,000 blood donations at these locations – a nearly 40% drop from pre-pandemic levels. This, coupled with an active disaster season, is creating a perfect “storm” and challenging the organization’s ability to collect a sufficient amount of blood products to meet the needs of hospitals across the country. The Red Cross provides community blood drives and donation centers across Wisconsin. Those who may have previously given at a local business blood drive are encouraged to book a time to give at one of these locations by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting
RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 2023-APL-0893
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 26-Oct. 20:
WI
Dodge
Beaver Dam
10/25/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Beaver Dam High School, 500 Gould St
Fox Lake
10/9/2023: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Fox Lake Community Center, 248 E State Street
Horicon
10/4/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Horicon High School, 841 Gray St
10/11/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., MarshView Ministries, 103 South Cedar St
Juneau
10/23/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Human Services and Health Department, 199 County Road DF
Mayville
10/25/2023: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 134 South Main Street
Randolph
10/18/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Randolph High School, 110 Meadowood Dr
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Dodge County
Watertown
10/16/2023: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, N572 Co Rd R
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Fond du Lac
Eden
10/13/2023: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Eden Fire Department, 104 Pine St
Fond du Lac
9/26/2023: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
9/26/2023: 1:15 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
10/11/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Moraine Park Tech Coll, 235 N National Ave
10/16/2023: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St.
10/19/2023: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Fond du Lac High School, 801 Campus Dr
Ripon
10/24/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, 430 Griswold St
Saint Cloud
10/17/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., St Cloud Athletic Club, 911 Main St
