DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – A donation shortfall over the winter holidays is prompting the American Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood donors to give now to prevent a blood shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care.
According to The Red Cross, it collected more than 27,000 fewer blood donations the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. During this period, about 1,350 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet patient needs as busy holiday schedules kept many donors away.
“Many people may not realize that blood products are perishable, and the only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “When donations decline – as they did around the holidays and may further decline if severe winter weather and flu season pick up – lifesaving medical treatments could be delayed.”
Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types on hand, well below the ideal five-day supply needed to respond to emergencies and daily hospital needs. Blood products are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.
“We hope people can resolve to save lives now – when there is an emergency need – as well as throughout the year,” added Numark.
All eligible donors, especially blood donors with type O blood, are urged to make an appointment to give in the coming days to help restock the shelves for hospital patients. Eligible donors can find a blood donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from worsening this winter.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities January 14-February 15:
Collin
Allen
1/19/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1404 East Main Street
1/21/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 205 Central Expressway N
1/30/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., PFS, 505 Millennium Dr
2/11/2019: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., ASI Gymnastics, 1280 Central Expry North
Frisco
2/5/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frisco Community, 11000 Eldorado Parkway
McKinney
1/22/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter McKinney Branch, 1450 Red Bud Blvd
2/11/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Red Cross McKinney Chapter, 1450 Red Bud Blvd
Plano
1/25/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Baylor Scott & White Medical Center at Plano, 4700 Alliance Blvd.
2/14/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., CH Robinson, Worldwide, 8454 Parkwood Blvd, Suite 200
Wylie
2/15/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wylie High School, 2550 W.FM 544
Dallas
Coppell
2/12/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., New Tech High School at Coppell, 113 Samuel Blvd
2/15/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., AMN Healthcare, 8840 Cypress Waters
Dallas
1/13/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Avenue
1/14/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross – Dallas Chapter BUS, 4800 Harry Hines
1/15/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trammell Crow Center, 2010 Flora Street
1/15/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., The Fairways at Prestonwood Apartments, 5769 Belt Line Rd.
1/18/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Foundry Commercial, 8144 Walnut Hill Ln.
1/25/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Uplift Peak Preparatory, 4600 Bryan Street
1/27/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 4800 Harry Hines Blvd
2/7/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tollway Plaza II South, 15950 Dallas Parkway
2/8/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Target, 6419 Skillman Street
Desoto
1/15/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Desoto High School, 600 Eagle Drive
1/18/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Desoto Recreation Center, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road
1/23/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Solar Turbines, 215 E Centre Park Blvd.
Farmers Branch
2/2/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., McDonald’s Midway Rd – Farmer’s Branch, 13950 Midway Rd, Farmers Branch
Garland
1/17/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Jack L. May Field Operations Complex, 2343 Forest Lane
1/18/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., International Leadership of Texas High School, 4413 N Shiloh Rd
2/9/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Harmony School Of Innovation, 2302 Firewheel Pkwy
2/9/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Garland High School, 2109 Buckingham Rd.
Grand Prairie
1/16/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Grand Prairie Collegiate School, 1502 College Street
2/5/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Arlington Career Institute, 901 Ave. K
2/7/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Immaclate Conception School, 610 NE 17th Street
Hutchins
1/25/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., ADESA, 3501 North Lancaster Hutchins Blvd
Irving
1/29/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 400 E Airport
2/5/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American College of Emergency Physicians, 4950 West Royal Lane
2/15/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., YARDI, 8616 Freeport Parkway, Suite 300
Mesquite
1/26/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Parkside Baptist Church, 1729 Gross Rd.
1/30/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lowe’s, 4444 N. Galloway
2/13/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Eastfield College -Building C, 3737 Motley Dr.
Richardson
1/21/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., McDonald’s Campbell Rd. In Richardson, 170 W. Campbell Rd.
Denton
Denton
1/18/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Toyota Denton, 4100 S. I-35 E. Frontage Rd.
1/19/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 300 West Oak Street
1/24/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Billy Ryan High School, 5101 E. McKinney St.
Flower Mound
1/14/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1901 Timber Creek Rd
2/12/2019: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Young Life High School, 1901 Timber Creek Road
Frisco
1/22/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., AmerisourceBergen Frisco, 3101 Gaylord Pkwy
2/10/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W Elliott Drive
Krum
1/19/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Krum Public Library, 815 E McCart St
Lewisville
1/21/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Auto Nation Nissan Lewisville, 1601 S. Stemmons Fwy.
2/6/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Texas Waste Management, 520 E Corporate Drive, Suite 100
Little Elm
1/26/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lowe’s Store 2567, 2773 East El Dorado
1/31/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Retractable Tech, 511 Lobo Lane
Grimes
Navasota
2/12/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 616 Holland
Hill
Whitney
2/8/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Whitney High School, 1400 N. Brazos
Johnson
Burleson
2/1/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Burleson Honda, 632 North Burleson Blvd.
2/11/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowe’s Burleson, 920 N. Burleson Blvd.
Rio Vista
2/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Rio Vista High School, 100 Eagle Drive
Kaufman
Forney
2/6/2019: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Forney High School, 800 FM 741 S
Navarro
Corsicana
1/31/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Mildred High School, 5475 S HWY 287
Tarrant
Arlington
1/16/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., My Computer Career, 1701 E Lamar Blvd
1/18/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowe’s – Arlington, 1000 W. Arbrook Blvd.
2/8/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kids R Kids, 600 Debbie Ln
Bedford
2/2/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., YMCA Airport Area, 3524 Central Drive
Colleyville
2/7/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Colleyville Heritage High School, 5401 Heritage Ave.
Fort Worth
1/13/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 201 Thornhill Dr
1/14/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowe’s Store 2546, 1111 Eastchase Pkwy
1/15/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Alpha Phi Omega, 2720 S University Drive
1/20/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe, 4100 Blue Mound Rd
1/27/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Now Faith Christian Outreach Center, 3120 E. Lancaster Avenue
1/29/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, 3901 S. Hulen St.
2/3/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5969 Bowman Roberts Rd.
2/10/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mount Olive Missionary Baptist, 2951 Evans Ave
2/14/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Medical City Alliance, 3101 N. Tarrant Parkway
Grapevine
1/17/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., DealerBuilt, 1225 S. Main Street, STE 201
2/3/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bass Pro Shop Grapevine, 2501 Bass Pro Drive
Hurst
1/20/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowe’s Hurst, 770 Grapevine Hwy
1/29/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trusted ER Hurst, 824 Airport Fwy
Keller
1/20/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Lowe’s of Keller, 600 North Tarrant Parkway
Mansfield
1/19/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Life Time Fitness, 1551 Debbie Lane
Southlake
1/23/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Keller Williams, 2106 E State Highway 114, Suite 101
Wise
Decatur
2/8/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Decatur High School, 750 E Eagle Summit Drive
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