Donors of all blood types are urged to give now and help restock blood supply
WICHITA, Kan. (Jan. 20, 2020) — The American Red Cross has extended its urgent call for donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets. With influenza escalating across the country and preventing some donors from giving, and winter weather threatening to cancel blood drives, the Red Cross now has a critical shortage of type O blood and urgently needs donors to restock the shelves.
O so needed
Currently, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O blood available for patient emergencies and medical treatments. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type and can be given to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. While just 7% of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, it can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what hospital staff reach for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type.
Help replenish the blood supply
Every day, the Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood donations and more than 2,600 platelet donations for patients who rely on blood to survive. Shortfalls in donations can cause delays in essential medical care for patients.
Donors of all blood types – especially types O positive and O negative – are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
Mon., 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Tues. & Wed., 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fri. & Sat., 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Clearwater
1/22/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Clearwater High School, 1201 E. Ross
Garden Plain
2/10/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Anthony’s School, 635 N. Main St.
Goddard
2/7/2020: 8:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Eisenhower High School, 1230 S 167th St West
2/14/2020: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Goddard High School, 2500 S. 199th
Maize
2/8/2020: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 208 E. Academy Ave.
Mulvane
2/14/2020: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Kansas Star Casino, 777 Kansas Star Drive
Valley Center
1/28/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Valley Center Community Buliding, 316 E. Clay St.
Wichita
1/20/2020: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Law Company, 345 Riverview
1/21/2020: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., The Oxford Grand, 3051 N Parkdale St
1/22/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Planet Fitness, 3535 N Rock Road
1/22/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Patrick’s School, 2023 Arkansas
1/23/2020: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Northeast Magnet High School, 5550 N. Lycee
1/27/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Church of the Magdalen, 2221 N. 127th Street East
1/29/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wichita State University Heskett Center, 1845 Fairmount
1/30/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wichita State University Heskett Center, 1845 Fairmount
2/2/2020: 7 a.m. – 12 p.m., Riverlawn Christian Church, 4243 N. Meridian
2/4/2020: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., WSU Tech Webb, 4004 N Webb Rd
2/7/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wesley Medical Center, 550 N Hillside
2/10/2020: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., McLean Science and Technology Magnet, 2277 Marigold Lane
2/10/2020: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Robert J Dole VA Medical Center and Regional Office, 5500 E. Kellogg
2/10/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sedgwick County Extension Office, 7001 W. 21st
2/10/2020: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., St. Jude Catholic Church, 3130 N. Amidon
2/11/2020: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Friends University Casado Center, 2100 University
2/11/2020: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., NetApp, 3718 N Rock Road
2/14/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Marina Point – 1999 Bldg, 1999 N Amidon
2/15/2020: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., St Elizabeth Ann Seton, 645 N. 119th W.
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How to donate blood
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
