By Jan Hale, staff contributor, American Red Cross

The American Red Cross has a severe winter blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for blood donors to make a donation appointment now and help save patient lives.

Hectic holiday schedules for many regular blood donors contributed to about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than what was needed. Snowstorms and severe weather have also impacted donations. Nearly 100 blood drives were forced to cancel in December, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected.

“Blood donations are critically needed in the coming days so that patients can continue to receive the lifesaving treatments they are counting on,” said Jan Hale, communications manager, Southwest Region Red Cross Blood Services. “We encourage donors to invite a family member or friend to donate with them to help meet patient needs. Right now, blood donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”

How to help

Find a blood donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites for more donors to give blood or platelets. Overall, the Red Cross has added nearly 200 hours to blood donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help speed up the donation process.

“In about an hour, you can help save someone’s life. This simple act can have a profound impact on another human being,” said Hale.

Who blood donations help

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood to save their lives.

The birth of her first child didn’t go as Dallas-area resident Lisa Morgan anticipated. She went into premature labor and delivered Alex at 34 weeks. In addition to being born early, Alex also needed blood.

“Shortly after his birth, I remember being awakened from sedation by a nurse asking me to give consent for my baby to receive a blood transfusion,” said Morgan. “He needed another transfusion the following day. I will forever be grateful to those generous donors who helped save my child’s life.”

Alex, now 3 years old, is a healthy, happy, busy little boy who loves to play outside. His mom concludes, “Please give blood so it’s available for another mom or dad or newborn.”

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Collin

 

Allen

1/11/2017: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., PFS Web, 505 Millennium Dr

1/16/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 205 Central Expressway N

1/21/2017: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., East Allen LDS Chapel, 1404 East Main Street

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Dallas

 

Carrollton

1/4/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Carrollton City Hall, 1945 E. Jackson Rd.

 

Dallas

1/5/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Villa Piana Apartments, 13500 Noel Road

1/9/2017: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 4800 Harry Hines

1/10/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Crescent Real Estate, 200 Crescent Court

1/10/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., College of Health Care Professions, 8390 LBJ Freeway, Suite 300

1/11/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Trammell Crow Center, 2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 325

1/12/2017: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bryan Tower, 2001 Bryan Street

1/14/2017: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., MLK Home Fire Preparedness Blood Drive, 1128 S. Coc krell Hill Road

1/14/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pike West Commerce, 444 W. Commerce St.

1/15/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 534 West 10th Street

1/16/2017: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 4800 Harry Hines

 

Desoto

1/13/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Desoto Recreation Center, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road

 

Garland

1/12/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Jack L. May Field Operations Complex, 2343 Forest Lane

1/21/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., North Garland High School, 2109 Buckingham Rd.

 

Irving

1/19/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 400 E Airport

 

Mesquite

1/16/2017: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Lowe’s, 4444 N. Galloway

1/16/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Chipotle Mexican Grill-Mesquite, 1715 N. Town East Blvd

 

Sunnyvale

1/18/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sunnyvale Town Hall, 127 N. Collins Road

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Denton

 

Denton

1/21/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Andrew Presbyterian Chruch, 300 West Oak Street

 

Flower Mound

1/7/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., FM9 Building, 3411 Peters Colony Road, FM9 Building

1/8/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., FM9 Building, 3411 Peters Colony Road, FM9 Building

1/10/2017: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church Flower Mound, 1901 TImber Creek, Education Building A

 

Little Elm

1/6/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Retractable Tech, 511 Lobo Lane

1/16/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Lowe’s Store 2567, 2773 East El Dorado

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Ellis

 

Waxahachie

1/6/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowe’s Waxahachie, 1420 N. Hwy 77

1/22/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., The Avenue Church, 1761 N. HWY 77

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Jack

 

Jacksboro

1/5/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 200 N Knox

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Navarro

 

Corsicana

1/5/2017: 12:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 320 N.15th

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Parker

 

Poolville

1/17/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Poolville High School, 1001 Lone Star Rd

 

Weatherford

1/17/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Weatherford Library, 1014 Charles Street

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Tarrant

 

Fort Worth

1/15/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 201 Thornhill Dr

1/18/2017: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, 3901 S. Hulen St.

 

Keller

1/13/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowe’s of Keller, 600 North Tarrant Parkway

 

Mansfield

1/14/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Life Time Fitness, 1551 Debbie Lane

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 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 cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.