Donations Needed During Blood Emergency, Red Cross Says

Written by Bryan Littel, Cherry Hill Patch editor

With blood donations down 10 percent from expected levels last month, and July donations slow as well, the American Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood donors of all blood types.

Nationwide, there were 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June, officials said, with a similar trend to start July, due at least in part to Fourth of July falling midweek this year, which cut back on blood drives.

Add in the lack of high school and college blood drives, which Red Cross officials said can account for 20 percent of all donations during the school year, and June can be among the most challenging months for the organization to meet the need for blood.

“We are counting on generous volunteer blood and platelet donors to step up and give now,” said Brigid O’Neill LaGier, CEO for the Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region. “Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Each day donations come up short, less blood is available for these patients in need.”

The shortfall to start the summer is similar to what the organization saw in 2012, officials said, but demand hasn’t slowed down. In order to hit the mark regionally, the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region needs about 1,200 donors to give blood, officials said, with need especially high for types O negative—the universal donor—as well as B negative and A negative.

Platelet donations are also a major need, officials said, given the short window for transfusions. Cancer patients often need platelets, a key clotting component of blood, and since they have to be transfused within five days of donation, it’s key to have a steady supply available, officials said.

Would-be donors need to be 17 years old, or 16 with a parent’s permission, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health to donate, and either a donor ID card or driver’s license, or two other forms of ID are required at check-in.

Donors can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

A partial list of drives in the next week in the area is below:

• July 18, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.—Bertucci’s, 515 Route 73 North, Marlton
• July 19, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.—Cooper University Hospital, 1 Cooper Plaza, Camden
• July 19, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Pennsauken American Red Cross, 5425 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken
• July 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Horizon Connect, 1680 Nixon Drive, Moorestown
• July 20, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.—Pennsauken American Red Cross, 5425 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken
• July 21, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.—Pennsauken American Red Cross, 5425 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken
• July 22, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.—Deptford Township Municipal Building, 1011 Cooper Street, Deptford
• July 22, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.—Calvary Church, 317 Conrow Road, Delran
• July 22, 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.—Pennsauken American Red Cross, 5425 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken
• July 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—American Asphalt Company, Inc., 116 Main Street, West Collingswood Heights
• July 23, 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.—Pennsauken American Red Cross, 5425 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken
• July 24, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.—Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 1565 Vesper Blvd., Camden
• July 24, 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.—Pennsauken American Red Cross, 5425 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken