Following a difficult Fourth of July week for blood and platelet donations and ongoing challenges finding new blood donors, the American Red Cross faces a blood shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all blood types to give now to 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.
Red Cross has 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.
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.
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
Johnson City Blood Donation Center
365 Harry L. Drive
Johnson City, NY 13790
Monday-Wednesday: 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Thursday-Sunday: 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Broome County
Binghamton
7/15/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Broome County Sheriff, 155 Lt. Van Winkle Drive
7/18/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Binghamton University, Old O’Connor Hall
7/26/2019: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Lourdes Hospital, 169 Riverside Drive
Endicott
7/11/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Absolut Care of Endicott, 301 Nantucket Drive
7/18/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Endicott Battle of the Badges. Endicott Fire Department, 1009 East Main Street
7/20/2019: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Our Lady of Good Counsel, 701 West Main Street
7/24/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Community Church of Nazarene, 1385 Union Center Highway
Johnson City
7/11/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Raymour and Flanigan Furniture, 220 Reynolds Road
7/25/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Oakdale Mall, 601-635 Reynolds Road
7/25/2019: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Oakdale Mall, 601-635 Reynolds Road
Tioga County
Apalachin
7/12/2019: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., St Margaret Mary’s Church, 1110 Pennsylvania Avenue
Owego
7/19/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Owego Treadway Inn, 1100 State Route 17C
7/23/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 300 Main Street
Waverly
7/15/2019: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Elderwood, 37 N Chemung Street
7/25/2019: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waverly United Methodist Church, 158 Chemung Street
