"Help save lives:" Red Cross has urgent need for blood and platelet donations
MILWAUKEE -- The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations to prevent a shortage this winter. Busy holiday schedules in November and December contributed to about 1,700 fewer blood drives held across the country compared to the two previous months, which has resulted in about 50,000 fewer donations and reduced the blood supply. Donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
“A decline in the blood supply after the winter holidays is not uncommon, but it can be replenished when generous volunteers roll up their sleeves to help save lives,” said Todd Kulman, External Communications Manager for the Red Cross Badger-Hawkeye Blood Services Region. “We encourage our generous donors who are eligible, as well as new donors, to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and help ensure blood products continue to be available for patients. Every two seconds a patient in the U.S. needs blood.”
January is National Blood Donor Month, which has been observed since 1970 with the goal of increasing blood donations during the winter – one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood and platelet donations to meet patient needs. In addition to winter bringing busy holiday schedules for many regular donors, severe winter weather can cancel blood drives, and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, may cause donors to be temporarily unable to give.
Blood and platelet donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to donate for patients like Pyper Young, now 7 years old. The chemotherapy that treated Pyper’s brain cancer also caused her to need emergency transfusions to increase her blood levels. The Red Cross must collect about 14,000 donations every day to meet the needs of patients like Pyper.
Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities:
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
1/11/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Ronald Reagan High School, 4965 S 20th St
1/12/2016: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Roman Parish, 1710 W. Bolivar Ave.
West Allis
1/12/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., West Allis City Hall, 7525 W. Greenfield Ave.
Waukesha
New Berlin
1/12/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln
Pewaukee
1/12/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
Dodge
Mayville
1/13/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 134 South Main Street
Ozaukee
Grafton
1/13/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 2633 Washington St
Plymouth
1/13/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Salem United Church of Christ, 217 Salem Dr
Dodge
Juneau
1/14/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dodgeland High School, 401 S Western Ave
Jefferson
Jefferson
1/14/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Masonic Center, 617 Masonic Blvd
Waukesha
Pewaukee
1/14/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
Dodge
Rubicon
1/15/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saylesville School, N3501 Cty Hwy P
Milwaukee
Greendale
1/15/2016: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., College Park Elementary, 5701 W College Ave
Sheboygan
Sheboygan
1/15/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
Dodge
Beaver Dam
1/18/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St
Walworth
East Troy
1/18/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St -Hwy 20
Dodge
Beaver Dam
1/19/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St
Fond du Lac
Rosendale
1/19/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 124 S Main St
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
1/19/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Schlitz Park Office Building, 1555 N River Center Dr
Waukesha
Pewaukee
1/19/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
Ozaukee
Cedarburg
1/21/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., St Francis Borgia Cath Church, 1375 Covered Bridge Rd
Waukesha
Pewaukee
1/21/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
Sussex
1/21/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Richmond Elementary School, N56 W26530 Richmond Rd
Sheboygan
Sheboygan
1/22/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
Walworth
Lake Geneva
1/22/2016: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lakeland Community Church, N3181 State Road 67
Whitewater
1/22/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Whitewater Armory, 146 W North St
Ozaukee
Port Washington
1/23/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 504 W Grand Ave
Dodge
Fox Lake
1/25/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion Post 521, 220 W State St
Fond du Lac
Campbellsport
1/25/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 350 S Helena St
Washington
Jackson
1/25/2016: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Jackson Community Center, N165 W20330 Hickory Ln
Waukesha
Dousman
1/25/2016: 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church, S50 W33042 Town Rd GE
Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac
1/26/2016: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
Ozaukee
Fredonia
1/26/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 824 Fredonia Ave
Port Washington
1/26/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Port Washington Adult Community Senior Center, 403 W Foster St
Waukesha
Pewaukee
1/26/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
Jefferson
Fort Atkinson
1/27/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 201 S Water St
Walworth
Whitewater
1/27/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., University of Wisconsin Whitewater, 228 Wyman Pedestrian Mall
Dodge
Horicon
1/28/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., IAM LL873 Union Hall, 258 Barstow St
Waupun
1/28/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Edgewood Church, 201 Edgewood Dr
Walworth
Whitewater
1/28/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., University of Wisconsin Whitewater, 228 Wyman Pedestrian Mall
Waukesha
Pewaukee
1/28/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
1/28/2016: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills, N36W24130 Pewaukee Rd, PO Box 802
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
1/29/2016: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cherry Court, 1525 N. 24th St.
Sheboygan
Sheboygan
1/29/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
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Walworth
Elkhorn
1/29/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Walworth County Health and Human Services, W4051 County Road NN
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Waukesha
Hartland
1/30/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Lake Country Lutheran High School, 401 Campus Dr
How to donate blood
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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 donors can now 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, from a home or work computer prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.