American Red Cross issues emergency call for blood donations

ALBANY — A donation shortfall over the winter holidays has prompted the American Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood donors, including those in southwest Georgia, to give now to prevent a blood shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care.

Officials with the Red Cross collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. During this period, about 1,350 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet patient needs as holiday schedules kept many donors away.

“Many people may not realize that blood products are perishable, and the only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors,” Cliff Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said. “When donations decline — as they did around the holidays and may further decline if severe winter weather and flu season pick up — lifesaving medical treatments could be delayed.”

Red Cross officials said they have less than the ideal five-day supply needed to respond to emergencies and daily hospital needs. Blood products are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.

“We hope people can resolve to save lives now — when there is an emergency need — as well as throughout the year,” Numark said.

Severe winter weather poses an additional threat to an already low blood supply. Snow, ice and extreme temperatures last January and February forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing about 23,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

In December, winter weather resulted in nearly twice the number of uncollected blood and platelet donations as December 2017, officials with the Red Cross said.

Upcoming opportunities in the southwest Georgia area to give blood include:

— Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Lee County High School, One Trojan Way, Leesburg;

— Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Greater Second Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 103 Dewey St., Albany;

— Monday, 3-7 p.m., Northside Baptist Church, 4605 Murray Ave., Tifton;

— Wednesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College John Hunt Town Center, 2802 Moore Hwy, Tifton;

— Thursday, 2-7 p.m., Byne Memorial Baptist Church, 2832 Ledo Road, Albany;

— Jan. 25, noon-5 p.m., Albany Mall, 2601 Dawson Road, Albany;

— Jan. 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Albany Technical College, Building C, 1704 S. Slappey Blvd., Albany;

— Jan. 30, noon-4 p.m., Albany Board of Realtors, 2325 Lake Park Drive, Albany;

— Feb, 4, noon-5 p.m., Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Road, Albany;

— Feb. 4, 3-7 p.m., Ty Ty Baptist Church, 157 N. Church St., TyTy;

— Feb. 11, 1-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 402 S. Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald;

— Feb. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Terrell County High School, 201 Greenwave Blvd., Dawson;

— Feb. 12, 1-6 p.m., Cordele Community Clubhouse, 108 15th Ave., Cordele;

— Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Dougherty Comprehensive High School, 1800 Pearce Avenue, Albany;

— Feb. 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Tift Regional Event Center, 1657 S. Carpenter Road, Tifton.

To donate blood, download the American Red Cross blood donor app, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Most individuals who are 17 years of age in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Officials said volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from worsening this winter.

Blood and platelet donors can 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, before arriving at the blood drive. Follow the instructions at www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass or use the blood donor app.