Red Cross says blood shortage still critical

ALBANY — If helping the American Red Cross meet the critical need for blood supplies isn’t enough to motivate donors, officials are hoping a small gift card for an online merchant will get folks to donation sites this summer.

Starting this week, the Red Cross is emailing a $5 Amazon gift card claim code to blood and platelet donors. The gift card codes will be given through the end of August to those donating, officials said.

The organization issued a nationwide emergency request early this month for blood and platelet donations and thousands have responded. Despite that response, Red Cross officials say, the blood shortage remains critical. As of Monday, the organization had less than a five-day blood supply on hand.

“The Red Cross continues to have an emergency need for blood and platelet donors to give now and help save patient lives,” said Mario Sedlock, director of donor recruitment of the Southern Blood Services Region. “We are grateful for those who have already stepped up this summer to give and want to remind those who are eligible that hospital patients are still counting on them to roll up a sleeve.”

At times, officials say, blood and platelets are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, impacting the organization’s ability to rebuild the blood supply.

Red Cross officials say they strive to have at minimum a five-day supply of blood and platelets available to meet the everyday needs of patients and to be prepared for emergencies that can require significant volumes of donated blood products.

Donors can 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). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce wait times, officials say.

Meanwhile, here are blood donation opportunities in Albany and Southwest Georgia:

Tuesday: noon-5 p.m., Porterfield Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Road, Albany;

Friday: 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Margaret Jones Library, 205 East Pope St., Sylvester;

Aug. 4: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Porterfield Methodist Church;

Aug. 5: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., True Vapor of Albany, 621 N. Westover Blvd., Suite E, Albany; 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Albany Mall, 2601 Dawson Road, Albany;

Aug. 8: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 402 S. Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald;

Aug. 9: 1 p.m.- 6 p.m., Cordele Community Clubhouse, 108 15th Ave., Cordele;

Aug. 11: 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Moultrie Church of Christ, 1915 Georgia Highway 37 East, Moultrie, and 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Omega Baptist Church, 219 Oak St., Omega.