Red Cross in ‘urgent need’ of blood, platelet donations

From The Trussville Tribune staff reports

This January, National Blood Donor Month, the American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors of all blood types to make an appointment to give now and help address a winter blood donation shortage, according to the organization.

Severe winter weather has had a tremendous impact on blood donations already this year, with more than 150 blood drives forced to cancel causing over 5,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

This is in addition to seasonal illnesses, such as the flu, and hectic holiday schedules collectively contributing to more than 28,000 fewer donations than what was needed in November and December.

“Even temporary disruptions to blood and platelet donations can diminish the availability for hospital patients,” said Clifford Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “It’s the blood on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency, and that’s why we’re asking eligible individuals to make an appointment to give blood or platelets today.”

While serving local hospitals is the first priority, the Red Cross can move blood products to where they’re needed most. This allows generous donors throughout the country to contribute to the national blood supply and potentially help patients locally and in storm-affected areas.

While all blood types are urgently needed, there is a more critical need for the following blood and donation types right now:

Platelets: The clotting portion of blood primarily given to cancer patients during treatment and always in great demand.
Type O negative: The blood type that can be transfused to almost everyone and is what doctors reach for in trauma situations.
Type B negative: The blood type that can be transfused to type B Rh-positive and negative patients.
Type AB: The plasma type that can be transfused to almost everyone and can be donated through a platelet or plasma donation, where available, or during a regular blood donation.

How to help

Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet 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). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the pre-donation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, by visiting redcrossblood.org/rapidpass from the convenience of a mobile device or computer, or through the Blood Donor App.

Who blood donations help

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood – a need that is all too real for Heather Hrouda and her family. Hrouda was 25 weeks pregnant with her fourth child when she began bleeding. An emergency cesarean section was performed, but Hrouda hemorrhaged during surgery. She received 14 units of blood and seven units of plasma before she and her newborn son, Rusher, were flown to a nearby hospital. There, she received additional transfusions, and Rusher was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit, where he also received a blood transfusion to increase his red blood cell count.

“My family and I are so thankful for all the blood donors,” said Hrouda. “It is safe to say that without their time and donations, Rusher and I would not be here today. Because of donors, I get to watch my kids grow up and become the adults they dream of being.”

The Hroudas are just two examples of the many patients who depend on blood and platelet donors. 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 Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 8-31

1/8/2018: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m., Quintard Mall, 700 Quintard Ave.	Oxford
1/8/2018: 1 – 6 p.m., Walmart, 1415 7th St. South	Clanton
1/8/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/8/2018: 12:45 – 7:45 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/8/2018: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m., University Mall, 1701 McFarland Blvd. E	Tuscaloosa
1/8/2018: 1 – 6 p.m., Best Buy, 1800 McFarland Blvd. E	Tuscaloosa
1/9/2018: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Seventh Street Baptist Church, 708 7th St. SW	Cullman
1/9/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Birmingham Fire Western Fitness Center, 4712 Ave. W	Birmingham
1/9/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/9/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Healthcare Inc., 38286 Highway 231	Ashville
1/9/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Duran South Jr. High School, 813 16th St. South	Pell City
1/9/2018: 12:45 – 7:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/10/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Birmingham Fire Western Fitness Center, 4712 Ave. W	Birmingham
1/10/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Alabama Power Corporate, 600 18th St. North	Birmingham
1/10/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/10/2018: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., SPOC Automation, Inc., 7363 Gadsden Highway	Trussville
1/10/2018: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/10/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 800 Greensboro Ave.	Tuscaloosa
1/11/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Diversicare of Oneonta, 215 Valley Road	Oneonta
1/11/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Birmingham Fire Western Fitness Center, 4712 Ave. W	Birmingham
1/11/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/11/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Generations of Vernon Rehab Center, 1050 Convalescent Road	Vernon
1/11/2018: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Northwest Medical Center, 1530 Highway 43	Winfield
1/12/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/12/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/13/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/14/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Our Lady of Sorrows Homewood, 1728 Oxmoor Road	Birmingham
1/14/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/15/2018: 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Grandview Medical Center, 3690 Grandview Parkway	Birmingham
1/15/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/15/2018: 12:45 – 7:45 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/15/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bevill State Community College – Jasper, 1500 Gamble Ave.	Jasper
1/15/2018: 12 – 5 p.m., Arley Fire Department, 236 Helicon Road	Arley
1/16/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/16/2018: 12:45 – 7:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/16/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Shelby County School of Technology, 701 Highway 70	Columbiana
1/16/2018: 2 – 7 p.m., Carbon Hill Masonic Lodge, 246 NW 2nd Ave.	Carbon Hill
1/17/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Hayden High School, 125 Atwood Road	Hayden
1/17/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oneonta High School, 27605 Highway 75	Oneonta
1/17/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB New Freshman Residence Hall, 900 17th St. South	Birmingham
1/17/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/17/2018: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/18/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wallace State Community College, 801 Main St.	Hanceville
1/18/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB New Freshman Residence Hall, 900 17th St. South	Birmingham
1/18/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/18/2018: 2 – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Columbiana, 208 North Main St.	Columbiana
1/19/2018: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Riverview Regional, 600 South 3rd St.	Gadsden
1/19/2018: 1 – 7 p.m., Premiere Cinemas 16, 1001 Rainbow Drive	Gadsden
1/19/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/19/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/19/2018: 2 – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Columbiana, 208 North Main St.	Columbiana
1/20/2018: 1 – 7 p.m., Premiere Cinemas 16, 1001 Rainbow Drive	Gadsden
1/20/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/21/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/22/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Vincent’s Blount, 150 Gilbreath Drive	Oneonta
1/22/2018: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m., Quintard Mall, 700 Quintard Ave.	Oxford
1/22/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/22/2018: 12:45 – 7:45 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/23/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mayer Electric Supply Co., 3405 4th Ave. South	Birmingham
1/23/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/23/2018: 12:45 – 7:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/23/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Winterboro High School, 22601 Highway 21	Alpine
1/23/2018: 12 – 5 p.m., Burke Hall, 920 Hackberry Lane	Tuscaloosa
1/24/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/24/2018: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/24/2018: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., St. Mark United Methodist Church, 1421 McFarland Blvd.	Northport
1/25/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/26/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Weaver High School, 917 Clairmont Drive	Weaver
1/26/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/26/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Gordo High School, 630 4th St. NW	Gordo
1/26/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/27/2018: 12 – 6 p.m., Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1975 Highway 78	Dora
1/27/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/28/2018: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/29/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/29/2018: 1 – 6 p.m., Carrollton Service Center, 149 Reform St.	Carrollton
1/29/2018: 12:45 – 7:45 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/29/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., UA College of Education, 102 Graves Hall	Tuscaloosa
1/30/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/30/2018: 12:45 – 7:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham
1/31/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., UAB Medical Center – North Pavilion, 1802 6th Ave. S	Birmingham
1/31/2018: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Caldwell Trace Donor Center, 700 Caldwell Trace	Birmingham

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.