Patients counting on blood donors as shortage continues

Donors who answer the call to help Nov. 1-12 entered to win an epic trip; receive $10 Amazon.com Gift Card Nov. 1-23

(Oct. 26, 2021) – With Thanksgiving and the holidays approaching, the American Red Cross urges donors to continue to make and keep appointments now and in the weeks ahead to help overcome the ongoing emergency blood shortage that has significantly impacted the nation’s blood supply. In fact, the current blood supply is the lowest the Red Cross has seen this time of year in more than a decade.

Since declaring an emergency need for donors last month, thousands of people have come to Red Cross blood drives across the country to roll up a sleeve and help patients who are counting on lifesaving transfusions. The Red Cross is incredibly grateful for the kindness and generosity of these blood donors, but hospital demand remains strong. At least 10,000 more donations are needed each week in the coming weeks to meet patient needs – ahead of the upcoming holiday season, which always presents seasonal challenges to blood collection.

Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

In honor of the new series, I Know What You Did Last Summer, those who come to give Nov. 1-12, 2021, will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video.* The trip will transport you to where the series was filmed and includes round-trip airfare for two, hotel accommodations for nine nights, meals, $1,000 gift card for expenses and on-trip transportation with tour stops from Honolulu to Maui. Plus, those who come to donate Nov. 1-23 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card* by email, thanks to Amazon.**

Blood drive safety

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 1-23

Perry County

Corning

11/23/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Miller High School, 10397 St. Rt. 155 S.E.

Crooksville

11/17/2021: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Crooksville High School, 4075 Ceramic Drive

New Lexington

11/18/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Lexington High School, 2547 Panther Drive

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Athens County

Athens

11/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Schoonover Center, Schoonover Center, 20 W Union Street

11/11/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

11/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Baker Center, 1 Park Place

11/23/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

Nelsonville

11/5/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Nelsonville York High School, 1 Buckeye Dr.

11/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Stuart's Opera House, 52 Public Square

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Coshocton County

Coshocton

11/12/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High Street

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Guernsey County

Byesville

11/4/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Stop Nine Church, 60325 Southgate Road

Cambridge

11/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Guernsey County Crossroads Branch Library, 63500 Byesville Road

11/6/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cambridge Area YMCA Family Center, 1301 Clairmont Ave

11/20/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cambridge Area YMCA Family Center, 1301 Clairmont Ave

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Licking County

Granville

11/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The United Church of Granville, 115 West Broadway

11/10/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway

Hebron

11/4/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hebron New Life United Methodist Church, 925 West Main ST

Johnstown

11/15/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Ascension Worship Center, 555 South Main St

Newark

11/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

11/5/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

11/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

11/12/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

11/16/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

11/19/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

11/23/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

Utica

11/18/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Utica Church of Christ, 115 North Central Avenue

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Muskingum County

Frazeysburg

11/19/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Meadow View Church of Christ, 6750 Raiders Road

Nashport

11/18/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Local 1105, 5805 Frazeysburg Road

New Concord

11/10/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., John Glenn HS, 13115 John Glenn School Road

Zanesville

11/1/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., West Muskingum Elementary, 200 Kimes Rd

11/2/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road

11/6/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Unity Church of the Nazarene, 3095 Maysville Pike

11/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road

11/20/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., South Zanesville UMC, 53 E Main St

11/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road

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Perry County

Corning

11/23/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Miller High School, 10397 St. Rt. 155 S.E.

Crooksville

11/17/2021: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Crooksville High School, 4075 Ceramic Drive

New Lexington

11/18/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Lexington High School, 2547 Panther Drive

Save time during donation

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Health insights for donors

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require trait-negative blood. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, 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 deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About I Know What You Did Last Summer

Written and executive produced by Sara Goodman, I Know What You Did Last Summer is based on Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel, which was also the basis of the iconic 1997 film. One year after the fatal car accident that haunted their graduation night, a group of teenagers find themselves bound together by a dark secret and stalked by a brutal killer. As they try to piece together who’s after them, they reveal the dark side of their seemingly perfect town—and themselves. Everyone is hiding something and uncovering the wrong secret could be deadly.

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*Restrictions apply, see RedCrossBlood.org/IKnowWhatYouDid.

**Restrictions apply, see amazon.com/gc-legal.