Red Cross issues urgent call for blood donations

ALBANY — The busy holidays and bad weather made for a bad combination for blood donations, leading the Red Cross to put out an urgent call for donations.

The final two months of 2016 came up 37,000 donations short of what was needed, Red Cross officials say, with snowstorms and other severe weather forcing the cancellations of of nearly 100 blood drives, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected.

“Blood and platelet donations are critically needed in the coming days so that patients can continue to receive the lifesaving treatments they are counting on,” said Nick Gehrig, communications director, 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 and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”

To 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 (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, officials said. 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,” Gehrig said.

In Southwest Georgia, upcoming blood drives include:

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

Tuesday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Albany Technical College, Building C, 1704 S. Slappey Blvd., Albany; 1 p.m.- 6 p.m., Cordele Community Clubhouse, 108 15th Ave., Cordele;

Thursday: noon-6 p.m., Moultrie Church of Christ, 1915 Georgia Highway 37 East, Moultrie; 3 p.m.- 7 p.m., Omega Baptist Church, 219 Oak St., Omega;

Friday: 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Cook County High School, 9900 Highway 37, Adel;

Jan. 15: noon-4 p.m., Greater Second Mt. Olive Recreational Center, 805 E. Broad Ave., Albany.

Jan. 17: noon-6 p.m., Tifton Methodist Church, 107 W. 12th St., Tifton;

Jan. 19: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Edison United Methodist Church, 107 Hartford St. East, Edison; 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Turner County Civic Center, 601 E. Madison St., Ashburn.