Decreased donations force Red Cross to issue emergency call for blood donors | Events

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 the United States needs 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 units of blood for patients at more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Of that, the South Carolina Blood Services Region must collect approximately 500 units per day,” said Julie Weilacher, interim CEO of the American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region. “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 unit 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,” Weilacher added. “Our goal is to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Please give blood with the American Red Cross today. 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. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or find blood donation opportunities in your community.

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities

Columbia Donation Center

2751 Bull Street

Whole Blood

Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday: 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sunday: closed

Platelets

Monday and Tuesday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Wednesday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Thursday-Sunday: 6 a.m.-1 p.m.

Community Blood Drives – for additional drives, please visit www.redcrossblood.org

June 26

Grand

Hours

Address

City

First Baptist Church of Bamberg

2-7 p.m.

11823 Heritage Highway

Bamberg

Central Church of the Nazarene

3-8 p.m.

100 S. Woodside Parkway

West Columbia

Remington College

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

607 Bush River Road

Columbia

June 27

Location

Hours

Address

City

Aiken Mall

2-7 p.m.

2441 Whiskey Road South

Aiken

Providence Hospital

11 a.m.-4 p.m.

2435 Forest Drive

Columbia

DHEC

9 a.m.-2 p.m.

8911 Farrow Drive, Ste. 102

Columbia

June 28

Location

Hours

Address

City

Kershaw County Hospital

11 a.m.-4 p.m.

1315 Roberts Street

Camden

Oakwood Baptist Church

3-8 p.m.

3520 Mineral Springs Road

Lexington

Mancor

11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

397A Highway 601 South

Lugoff

June 29

Location

Hours

Address

City

“Famously Hot” Blood Drive
at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

7 a.m.-3 p.m.

1101 Lincoln Street

Columbia

July 1

Location

Hours

Address

City

Lake Murray Baptist Church

Noon-4:30 p.m.

1001 Highway 378 West

Lexington

July 2

Location

Hours

Address

City

Families of Highway Fatalities at Fuddruckers 

Noon-4:30 p.m.

1001 Highway 378 West

Lexington

Family & Friends Blood Drive at the Sumter Donation Center

9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

1155 North Guignard

Sumter

July 3

Location

Hours

Address

City

Family & Friends Blood Drive at the Columbia Donation Center

7 a.m.-7 p.m.

2751 Bull Street

Columbia