"All blood types are currently needed:" Red Cross, BloodCenter of WI encourage blood, platelet donations

MILWAUKEE -- As the American Red Cross responds to wildfires and historic hurricanes, eligible donors are reminded that giving blood or platelets during National Preparedness Month in September is one way to help ensure the Red Cross is prepared to respond to patient emergencies across the country every day.

According to a press release from the Red Cross, Hurricane Irma has forced the cancellation of dozens of Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast, resulting in more than 2,100 uncollected blood and platelet donations.

Natural disasters like hurricanes can disrupt blood drives and prevent donors from giving, but hospital patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions. Volunteer blood and platelet donors are the only source for blood products needed by hospital patients.

Individuals in parts of the country unaffected by Hurricane Irma are encouraged to give blood or platelets to help ensure a sufficient blood supply. All blood types are currently needed. Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and use RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questions online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or mobile device at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Wisconsin:

Dodge

Beaver Dam
9/27/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Grace Presbyterian Church, 215 Gould St
10/9/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St
10/10/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

Fox Lake
9/18/2017: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 521, 220 W State St

Hustisford
9/19/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church & School, 269 N Lake St

Lomira
9/18/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 300 Church St

Mayville
9/28/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 134 South Main Street

Randolph
10/11/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Randolph High School, 110 Meadowood Dr

Watertown
9/11/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, N554 County Road R
9/27/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Watertown Regional Medical Center, 125 Hospital Drive
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Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac
9/26/2017: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
9/29/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St.

Oakfield
9/15/2017: 1:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Oakfield High School, 250 East Church Street

Ripon
9/21/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ripon College, 300 Seward St

Rosendale
9/19/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 124 S Main St
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Jefferson

Fort Atkinson
9/13/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 201 S Water St

Ixonia
9/14/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Firemans Hall, N8345 Park St

Jefferson
9/26/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., East Elementary School, 120 S Sanborn Ave

Watertown
9/25/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 112 Hall Street
9/26/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 112 Hall Street
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Kenosha

Kenosha
9/19/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Todd Wehr Center, 2001 Alford Park Drive
10/5/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Reuther Central High School, 913 57th St
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Milwaukee

Milwaukee
9/12/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., US Bank Building, 777 E Wisconsin Aveune
9/21/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ronald Reagan High School, 4965 S 20th St
9/22/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Loving Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3909 W Clinton Ave
9/28/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Two Park Plaza, 10850 W. Park Place
10/5/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct.
10/12/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Schlitz Park Office Building, 1555 N River Center Dr

South Milwaukee
9/29/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., South Milwaukee High School, 801 15th Ave
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Ozaukee

Cedarburg
9/28/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., St Francis Borgia Cath Church, 1375 Covered Bridge Rd

Fredonia
10/11/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 824 Fredonia Ave
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Racine

Waterford
10/2/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Washington Caldwell School District, 8937 Big Bend Rd
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Sheboygan

Cedar Grove
10/10/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Faith Reformed Church, 243 S Fourth St

Kohler
10/3/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Kohler High School, 333 Upper Road

Plymouth
9/14/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Salem United Church of Christ, 217 Salem Dr

Sheboygan
9/15/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
9/22/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
9/29/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
10/6/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., IDEAS Academy, 830 Virginia Ave
10/6/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
10/13/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
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Walworth

East Troy
9/18/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St -Hwy 20

Elkhorn
10/12/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Alternative High School, 400 County Rd H

Lake Geneva
9/29/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mercyhealth, N2950 State Road 67 and Hwy 50
10/13/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Cove of Lake Geneva, 111 Center Street

Whitewater
9/11/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., University of Wisconsin Whitewater - Esker Hall, 420 N Prairie St
9/27/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Whitewater Armory, 146 W North St
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Washington

Jackson
9/25/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Jackson Community Center, N165 W20330 Hickory Ln
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Waukesha

Brookfield
9/15/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Brookfield Central High School, 16900 Gebhardt Rd

Butler
10/2/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Butler Public Library, 12808 W Hampton Ave

Merton
10/2/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Merton Community Fire Department, N67 W28343 Sussex Road

Mukwonago
9/20/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mukwonago Village Hall, 440 River Crest Ct

Nashotah
9/22/2017: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Nashotah House Theological Seminary - Refectory, 2777 Mission Rd

New Berlin
9/11/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Marsh & McLennan Agency, 2725 S. Moorland Road
9/25/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cleveland Pub & Grill, 14000 W. Cleveland Avenue

Pewaukee
9/14/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
9/21/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
9/21/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills, N36W24130 Pewaukee Rd, PO Box 802
9/22/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., ClearPath Connections, 1251 E Wisconsin Ave
9/28/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
10/5/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
10/10/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pewaukee City Hall, W240 N3065 Pewaukee Rd
10/12/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

Sussex
10/3/2017: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Rotating Equipment Repair, W248 N5550 Executive Dr

Waukesha
9/14/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Campus Center, 100 N East Ave
10/2/2017: 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., New Tribes Bible Institute, 915 North Hartwell Avenue

More information about how the Red Cross is responding to hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the western wildfires and other disasters is available at redcross.org.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. 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.

Meanwhile, the BloodCenter of Wisconsin is also seeking donors.

According to a news release, through its affiliation with Blood Centers of America, BloodCenter of Wisconsin shipped 170 donations to Florida Wednesday, September 13th and is encouraging donors to schedule  appointments to ensure the local blood need can be met – in addition to the assistance being provided to those in Florida.

The blood center serving Florida was forced to suspend blood donations Saturday, September 9th, so nearly 2,000 blood donations are being requested by blood centers around the country in the wake of the devastation brought on by Hurricane Irma.

Transportation of blood products is difficult, but blood centers are shipping life-saving donations by working through the Department of Health & Human Services, the military and state and government agencies.

BCW officials noted individuals with O positive and O negative blood are critically important. 

To schedule an appointment at any of BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s 10 donation centers, call 1-877-BE-A-HERO or visit https://www.bcw.edu.