"Help save lives:" Thousands answer the call, but Red Cross blood shortage continues

MILWAUKEE -- Thousands of people have responded to the emergency call for blood and platelet donations issued by the American Red Cross in early July --  but there continues to be a critical summer blood shortage. Eligible donors of all types are urgently needed.

According to a press release, after issuing the emergency call, the Red Cross has experienced a 30 percent increase in blood donation appointments through mid-July.

About half of the appointments were scheduled by donors using the free Blood Donor App or at redcrossblood.org. Red Cross officials say despite this improvement, blood products are still being distributed to hospitals as fast as donations are coming in, so more donations are needed to meet patient needs and replenish the blood supply.

“The blood supply is like a cell phone battery, it constantly needs recharging,” said Laura McGuire, external communications manager of the Badger-Hawkeye Blood Services Region. “We sincerely appreciate those who have responded to the call to help save lives and encourage those who haven’t to consider rolling up a sleeve and give the gift of life. It only takes about an hour but can mean a lifetime for patients.”

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 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.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 25-Aug. 15
WI

Dodge

Beaver Dam
8/2/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Church-United Methodist, 308 Oneida Street
8/7/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St
8/8/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

Mayville
7/27/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion, 134 South Main Street

Randolph
8/7/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Village of Randolph, Village of Randolph, 248 West Stroud St

Watertown
8/1/2017: 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
7/25/2017: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
7/28/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St.
8/16/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 535 Stow St

Mount Calvary
8/15/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., Maximillians, 155 Fond du Lac Street

Ripon
8/1/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ripon High School, 850 Tiger Dr
8/15/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, 430 Griswold St
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Jefferson

Fort Atkinson
8/23/2017: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Dwight Foster Public Library, 209 Merchants Ave

Jefferson
7/31/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Masonic Center, 617 Masonic Blvd

Lake Mills
8/1/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., City Hall, 200 Water St

Waterloo
8/18/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Holy Family Parish, 387 S Monroe

Watertown
7/24/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran School, 706 Jones Street
7/25/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran School, 706 Jones Street
8/14/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1611 E Main St
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Kenosha

Kenosha
8/17/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5601 Washington Rd
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Milwaukee

Brown Deer
7/28/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Brown Deer Public Library, 8060 N 60th St

Cudahy
8/16/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Prime Financial Credit Union, 5656 S Packard Ave

Franklin
8/24/2017: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Franklin Public Library, 9151 W Loomis Road

Greendale
8/14/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Martin Luther High School, 5201 S 76th St

Greenfield
8/21/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Southwest YMCA, 11311 W Howard Ave

Milwaukee
7/25/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 West Wells Street
7/28/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Xperience Fitness - West Allis, 6706 W. Greenfield Avenue
8/7/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2419 E Kenwood Blvd

Oak Creek
8/24/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Nucor Cold Finish, 7200 S 6th St

Shorewood
8/11/2017: 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Shorewood Village Center, 3930 N. Murray Ave.
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Ozaukee

Grafton
8/18/2017: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kapco Metal Stamping, 983 Badger Circle

Port Washington
8/22/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Matthew Lutheran Church, 1525 N Grant St
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Sheboygan

Cedar Grove
8/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Faith Reformed Church, 243 S Fourth St

Sheboygan

7/28/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
8/3/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mead Public Library, 710 N. 8th St.
8/4/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
8/11/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
8/18/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
8/25/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
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Walworth

Elkhorn
8/9/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Alternative High School, 400 County Rd H
8/25/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sperino's Monte Carlo Room, 720 N. Wisconsin St.

Lake Geneva
8/11/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Cove of Lake Geneva, 111 Center Street

Walworth
7/28/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Big Foot High School, 401 Devils Ln
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Washington

Germantown
8/25/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Germantown Community Library, N112W16957 Mequon Rd

Hartford
8/3/2017: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Hartford Recreation Center, 125 N Rural St
8/21/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Dave's Lanes, 218 N Main St

Jackson
7/31/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Jackson Community Center, N165 W20330 Hickory Ln

Kewaskum
8/15/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Peace United Church of Christ, 343 1st St.

West Bend
8/16/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., West Bend City Hall, 1115 S Main Street
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Waukesha

Brookfield
8/4/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Brookfield East High School, 3305 Lilly Rd
8/17/2017: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Paychex, 375 Bishops Way

Dousman
8/23/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Dousman Community Center, 235 N Main Street

Hartland
7/27/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Oakwood Church, 3041 Oakwood Rd
8/1/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Merton Community Center, W282 N6966 Main Street
8/9/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Charles Catholic Parish & School, 313 Circle Drive
8/15/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lake Country Racquet & Athletic Club, 560 Industrial Drive
8/25/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hartland Public Library, 110 E Park Ave

Menomonee Falls
8/23/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Menomonee Falls Public Library, W156 N8436 Pilgrim Rd

Mukwonago
8/22/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mukwonago Community Library, 511 Division St

Muskego
8/7/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Muskego Public Library, S73 W16663 Janesville Rd

New Berlin
7/26/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln
8/3/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Helium Trampoline & Climbing Park, 16235 W. Beloit Rd
8/22/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln

North Lake
7/27/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Town Hall Library, N76 W31429 Hwy VV

North Prairie
8/21/2017: 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church, S50 W33042 Town Rd GE

Oconomowoc
8/9/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, 815 Concord Rd
8/21/2017: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., YMCA at Pabst Farms, 1750 Valley Rd

Pewaukee
7/26/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kirkland Crossings, 700 Quinlan Drive
7/27/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
8/3/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
8/8/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

8/10/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
8/15/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
8/17/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
8/22/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
8/24/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

Sussex
8/8/2017: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Rotating Equipment Repair, W248 N5550 Executive Dr
8/24/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pauline Haass Public Library, N64 W23820 Main St

Waukesha
8/1/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sky Zone Trampoline Park, W229 N 1420 Westwood Dr
8/10/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Waukesha Public Library, 321 Wisconsin Avenue