ERIE — The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now and help save lives.
Blood donations have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations than needed and causing a significant drawdown of the Red Cross blood supply. The shortfall is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting any blood donations for more than four days.
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross has added more than 25,000 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.
There are several upcoming blood donation opportunities in the area:
• Kersey, from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Fox Township Senior Center, 365 Main St.
• Ridgway, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 14, Ridgway Central Hose Co., 30 N Broad St.
• St. Marys, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Moose Club Lodge, 30 Erie Ave.
• Weedville, from 1 to 6 p.m. July 13, American Legion, Route 255
• Bradford, from 1 to 6 p.m. July 18, Veterans of Foreign Wars Club, 96 Barbour St.
• Smethport, from noon to 6 p.m. July 24, Smethport Fire Hall, 109 S. Nelson St.
• Coudersport, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 20, Coudersport Consistory, 111 E. 2nd St.
• Ulysses, from 3 to 8 p.m. July 21, Tri Town Fire and Ambulance, 836 Route 49
