Red Cross is Looking for Blood and Platelet Donations Now

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, as the blood supply is really low for summer. With the July 4th holiday, many people postponed their blood donations, and the holiday also brings a fresh influx of accidents and need for more blood and platelets. Please help replenish the blood supply for Michigan.

You can schedule your donation with the free Blood Donor App, or online, or you can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule your appointment.

If you can't give, you can still help, by donating to the Sleeves Up campaign, or even volunteer your time to help.

Here are some upcoming blood drives around the Grand Rapids area:

Allegan
7/21/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m., Griswold Auditorium, 401 Hubbard Street

Coopersville
7/25/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m., Coopersville United Methodist Church, 105 N. 68th Avenue

Grand Haven
7/18/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Hope Reformed Church, 14932 Mercury Drive

Grandville
7/8/2016: 11 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Hanley Christian Reformed Church, O-372 Jackson St

Holland
7/11/2016: 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Harderwyk Ministries, 1627 W. Lakewood Blvd.
7/15/2016: 10 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Ottawa County Department of Health and Human Services, 12185 James Street
7/15/2016: 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Central Park Reformed Church, 614 Myrtle Ave
7/18/2016: 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Third Reformed Church, 111 W. 13th Street
7/21/2016: 10 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., USF Holland, 700 Waverly Ave
7/21/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Intersection Ministries, 945 136th Avenue

Hopkins
7/13/2016: 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Hopkins High School, 333 S Clark St

Hudsonville
7/22/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church, 3617 Hillcrest Road

Otsego
7/12/2016: 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., American Legion, 410 E Orleans

Spring Lake
7/14/2016: 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., First Baptist Church  Of Spring Lake, 118 E. Exchange Street
7/17/2016: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., St Mary Catholic Church, 406 East Savidge St
7/23/2016: 9 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 18975 168th Ave.

Wayland
7/13/2016: 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., United Church of Wayland, 411 Superior Street

Red Cross issues emergency call for blood and platelet donations to address significant shortage

LANSING, Mich. (July 5, 2016) — The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply.

Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply. In addition, the Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4.

“Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” said Todd Kulman, External Communications Manager of the Great Lakes Blood Services Region. “Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks. If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.”

How to Help

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 is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.

Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world.

Who Blood Donations Help

Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

Because of generous donors, the Red Cross is able to provide blood products to patients like 11-year-old Mae Rainey, who needs regular blood transfusions as part of her treatment for a blood disorder.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities that the Red Cross has given us to get her to her healthiest state,” said Caleb Rainey, Mae’s older brother.