Red Cross Appeals for Blood Donors

By Eagle Times Staff
The American Red Cross continues to see a concerning trend – blood donations are being sent to hospitals faster than they are coming in.

Supplying about 40 percent of the blood supply for the nation’s hospitals, the Red Cross has collected about 50,000 fewer blood donations than needed over the last two months.

Donors are asked to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now to avoid a looming blood shortage.

In thanks for helping, the Red Cross is offering incentives to donors who give blood or platelets in the coming weeks. Additionally, in response to the great need for blood, those who donate through Sunday will receive a $15 gift card to a merchant of their choice.

Incentives include a Red Cross dry bag for those who donate today; from Wednesday though Aug. 12, donors will be entered for a chance to win a three-night New York getaway for two with a private shark dive adventure at Long Island Aquarium made possible with help from Dicovery’s Shark Week; and from July 17 to 31, donors will receive a Shark Week T-shirt.

Donors must have a blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification, be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

The Red Cross will hold a donation drive from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday, at Sugar River Bank at 10 North Main Street in Newport. And on July 27, a drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont. In Vermont, blood drives will be held from 1 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the Holiday Inn in Brownsville; noon to 6 p.m., July 17, at the American Legion in Ludlow; and 1 to 5 p.m, July 20 at the United Church of Bellows Falls.

To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.