OMAHA, Neb. (June 25, 2012) – The American Red Cross blood supply has reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June. This shortfall leaves the Red Cross with half the readily available blood products on hand now than this time last year.
The Red Cross is calling on all eligible blood donors – now more than ever – to roll up a sleeve and give as soon as possible. All blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative, in order to meet patient demand this summer.
An unseasonably early start to spring may be a contributing factor to this year’s decrease in donations. Many regular donors got an early start on summer activities and aren’t taking time to give blood or platelets. In addition, this year’s mid-week Independence Day holiday has reduced the number of scheduled Red Cross blood drives. Many sponsors, especially businesses, are unable to host drives because employees are taking extended vacations.
Unfortunately, patients don’t get a holiday from needing blood products. The need is constant. Every two seconds, someone in theUnited Statesneeds a blood transfusion. Blood and platelets are needed for many different reasons, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, premature babies – when there are complications during childbirth – and for patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
“Every day, the Red Cross must collect more than 17,000 pints of blood for patients at more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Of that, the Midwest Blood Services Region must collect approximately 500 pints per day,” said Tricia Quinn, CEO of the American Red Cross Midwest Blood Services Region, serving Nebraska, western Iowaand parts of Coloradoand Kansas. “We need donors to make appointments in the coming days and weeks to help us ensure that all patient blood needs can be met. Each pint of whole blood can help save more than one life.”
“There is always the chance that a physician could postpone an elective surgery if the needed blood products aren’t readily available or, in a worst case scenario, have to forego a more serious procedure because of a shortage of blood.” Quinn added. “Our goal is to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. 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 permission 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.
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About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent 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 join our blog at blog.redcross.org.
Upcoming Nebraska Blood Donation Opportunities
ADAMS COUNTY
6/30/2012, 8:00 am- 2:00 pm,HastingsFamily YMCA,1430 W. 16th St,Hastings
7/5/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, First Congregational Church,2810 W. 7th St.,Hastings
7/5/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, St. Michael’s School,721 Creighton Ave.,Hastings
7/10/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, UnitedMethodistChurch,208 N. Doane Ave., Kenesaw
7/12/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, First Congregational Church,2810 W. 7th St.,Hastings
ANTELOPE COUNTY
7/10/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, American Legion Club,145 Main Street,Clearwater
BOONE COUNTY
7/9/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, St. Michael Catholic Church, 524 W. Church St.,Albion
BUFFALO COUNTY
6/25/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
6/26/2012, 7:00 am- 1:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
6/28/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
7/2/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
7/3/2012, 7:00 am- 1:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
7/3/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, American Legion, 1029 Court Street, Gibbon
7/5/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
7/9/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
7/10/2012, 7:00 am- 1:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
7/12/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
7/14/2012, 7:00 am-12:30 pm,Ft.KearneyChapter, 520 W. 48th,Kearney
CASS COUNTY
6/26/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm,LouisvilleHigh School,202 West 3rd Street,Louisville
7/13/2012, 2:00 pm- 7:00 pm, Methodist Church, 2nd St & Kansas St, Murdock, NE, Cass
7/13/2012, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm,ConestogaHigh School,POBox 40, Murray, NE, Cass
CHERRY COUNTY
7/5/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, St. Nicholas Catholic Church,400 West 5th Street, Valentine
COLFAX COUNTY
7/10/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, Oak Ballroom, Hwy 15 & Higgins Drive, Schuyler
CUSTER COUNTY
6/28/2012, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, Ansley Auditorium, 720 Douglas, Ansley
DEUEL COUNTY
6/29/2012, 8:00 am- 2:00 pm, Chappell Fire Hall,1650 2nd Street, Chappell
DODGE COUNTY
7/5/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, City Auditorium,741 Main St, NorthBend
DUNDY COUNTY
7/6/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, 4-HExhibitBuilding, 70495 Ave 338, Benkelman
FILLMORE COUNTY
6/29/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, American Legion,232 South Exeter Ave,Exeter
7/13/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, American Legion,541 Main Street, Milligan
FRANKLIN COUNTY
6/25/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Agricultural Center,West J Street,Franklin
FRONTIER COUNTY
7/11/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, Legion Hall,108 North Main Street, Eustis
FURNAS COUNTY
7/3/2012, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm,CommunityBuilding,401 10th Street,BeaverCity
GAGE COUNTY
6/27/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Holiday Inn Express,4005 N 6th St, Beatrice
6/28/2012, 7:00 am- 1:00 pm, Holiday Inn Express,4005 N 6th St, Beatrice
7/3/2012, 12:30 pm- 5:30 pm,St JosephCatholic Church, 420 N 6th, Beatrice
GRANT COUNTY
7/13/2012, 8:00 am- 2:00 pm,WintersBuilding, 300 South Main,Hyannis
HALL COUNTY
6/25/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
6/27/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
6/27/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,St Paul’sLutheranChurch,207 N 4th St, Doniphan
6/28/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
6/28/2012, 12:30 pm- 5:30 pm, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church,518 W State Street,Grand Island
6/29/2012, 7:00 am- 2:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
6/30/2012, 7:00 am-12:30 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
7/2/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, Home Federal Bank,3311 W Stolley Park Rd,Grand Island
7/2/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
7/5/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
7/6/2012, 7:00 am- 2:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
7/9/2012, 1:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Evangelical Free Church,2609 S Blain St,Grand Island
7/9/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
7/11/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm,Grand IslandBloodDonationCenter,404 East 3rd St,Grand Island
7/12/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Grand Island Blood Donation Center, 404 East 3rd St, Grand Island
7/13/2012, 7:00 am- 2:00 pm, Grand Island Blood Donation Center, 404 East 3rd St, Grand Island
HARLAN COUNTY
7/12/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Johnson Community Building, 601 Main Street, Alma
HAYES COUNTY
7/2/2012, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, Agricultural Building, Morton and Hayes, Hayes Center
HOWARD COUNTY
7/3/2012, 8:00 am- 1:00 pm, Louis A. Pawlowski Community Building, 400 Lander Ave., Farwell
JEFFERSON COUNTY
7/10/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, Elk’s Club, 525 G Street, Fairbury
JOHNSON COUNTY
7/12/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, St Andrew Catholic Church, 561 Jackson, Tecumseh
LINCOLN COUNTY
6/26/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
6/28/2012, 1:00 pm- 7:00 pm, First Lutheran Church Sunday School wing, 305 West 5th St, North Platte
6/28/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
6/30/2012, 7:00 am-12:30 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
7/3/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
7/5/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
7/6/2012, 7:00 am-12:00 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
7/10/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
7/12/2012, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, American Legion Hall, 108 E. 2nd Street, Hershey
7/12/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm, North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 South Cottonwood, North Platte
7/13/2012, 1:30 pm- 6:30 pm, Community Building, 121 North Main, Brady
7/13/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, First Baptist Church, 100 McDonald Road, North Platte
LOGAN COUNTY
6/27/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, Village Hall, 236 Main Street, Stapleton
MADISON COUNTY
6/26/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, American Red Cross Norfolk, 2612 W Norfolk Ave, Norfolk
6/29/2012, 8:00 am- 2:00 pm, Lutheran High Northeast, 2010 N 37th Street, Norfolk
6/30/2012, 8:00 am- 1:00 pm, Holiday Inn Express Norfolk, 920 South 20th Street, Norfolk
7/3/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, American Red Cross Norfolk, 2612 W Norfolk Ave, Norfolk
7/7/2012, 8:30 am- 1:30 pm, American Red Cross Norfolk, 2612 W Norfolk Ave, Norfolk
7/10/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, American Red Cross Norfolk, 2612 W Norfolk Ave, Norfolk
MCPHERSON COUNTY
6/29/2012, 10:00 am- 3:00 pm, McPherson County Fair Building, Hwy 92, Tryon
MERRICK COUNTY
7/2/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, St. Lawrence Catholic Hall, 705 5th Street, Silver Creek
NANCE COUNTY
6/29/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, City Hall, 313 Willard Avenue, Genoa
OTOE COUNTY
6/29/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, Walmart, 2101 S. 11th Street, Nebraska City
7/9/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, Eagle’s Club, 600 1st Corso, Nebraska City
PERKINS COUNTY
7/6/2012, 8:00 am- 2:00 pm, Methodist Church, West Madrid and McCullough St., Elsie
PHELPS COUNTY
7/2/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, Holdrege High School -The Tassel, 600 12th Ave, Holdrege
PLATTE COUNTY
6/27/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, American Red Cross Columbus Chapter House, 2905 23rd Street, Columbus
6/30/2012, 8:00 am- 1:00 pm, Columbus Holiday Inn Express, 524 E 23rd St, Columbus
7/5/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, American Red Cross Columbus Chapter House, 2905 23rd Street, Columbus
7/11/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, American Red Cross Columbus Chapter House, 2905 23rd Street, Columbus
RED WILLOW COUNTY
6/26/2012, 12:30 pm- 6:30 pm, McCook Fair building, West 5th and O St., Mc Cook
6/27/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, McCook Fair building, West 5th and O St., Mc Cook
RICHARDSON COUNTY
6/25/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Fairgrounds – 4-H Building, 1034 4th St, Humboldt
6/27/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, Fairgrounds – 4-H Building, 1034 4th St, Humboldt
SALINE COUNTY
6/25/2012, 10:15 am- 3:30 pm, Community Building, 151 Main St, Friend
6/26/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, VFW Club, 130 West 13 Street, Crete
7/10/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, Friend Christian Assembly Church, 105 Vine Street, Friend
7/11/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, Community Building, 107 N Cherry, De Witt
SAUNDERS COUNTY
7/11/2012, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, Ashland VFW Building, 102 S. 24th St., Ashland
7/14/2012, 7:00 am-12:00 pm, American Legion Hall, 430 W. 2nd St, Valparaiso
SHERMAN COUNTY
7/11/2012, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, Loup City Community Center, 723 North 8th, Loup City
THAYER COUNTY
7/11/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Carleton Community Center, 640 D Street, Carleton
THOMAS COUNTY
7/9/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Thomas County Fairgrounds, Junction of Hwy 2 & 83, Thedford
VALLEY COUNTY
7/10/2012, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, Veteran’s Club, 246 S. 15th St., Ord
WASHINGTON COUNTY
7/8/2012, 9:30 am- 3:00 pm, Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church, 123 N. 13 St, Fort Calhoun
YORK COUNTY
6/25/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, York City Auditorium, 612 N Nebraska Ave, York
6/25/2012, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Town Hall, 323 East M Street, McCool Junction
6/26/2012, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, York City Auditorium, 612 N Nebraska Ave, York