WS Chronicle

GREENSBORO — Ongoing severe winter weather has more than doubled the number of canceled American Red Cross blood drives and the resulting blood and platelet donation shortfall since earlier this month. The Red Cross now considers the situation critical and is reissuing an urgent call for blood and platelet donors.

More than 550 blood drives have been forced to cancel due to winter weather in January, causing over 16,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected through last week. In North Carolina, more than 120 blood drives have been forced to cancel due to winter weather this month, causing more than 3,300 donations to go uncollected. In addition, bitter cold and widespread flu have contributed to very low turnout at many blood drives.

“Blood and platelet donations are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in,” said Clifford Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Donors are critically needed to restock the shelves for patients in their community as well as areas where donors are unable to give due to inclement weather.”

Every day, no matter the weather, the Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations to meet the needs of patients. Accident victims and patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses may require potentially lifesaving transfusions every day.

Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling (800) RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 25 to Feb. 15

Forsyth County

Kernersville

1/26/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., East Forsyth High School, 2500 West Mountain Street

2/5/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Kernersville Wesleyan Church/Family Life Center, 930 North Main Street

2/6/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Glenn High School, 1600 Union Cross Road

Lewisville

2/12/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Lewisville Library, 6490 Shallowford Road

Winston-Salem

1/25/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

1/26/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

1/28/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

1/29/2018: 9:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Parkland High School, 1600 Brewer Road

1/29/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

1/29/2018: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Griffith Fire Department, 5190 Peters Creek Parkway

1/30/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

1/31/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/1/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/2/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/3/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Heavenview United Pentecostal Church, 1410  W. Clemmonsville Road

2/4/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/4/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trinity Moravian Church, 220 E. Sprague Street

2/4/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Shady Grove United Methodist Church, 167 Shady Grove Church Road

2/5/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/5/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., US Naval Recruiting Winston-Salem, 3320 Silas Creek Parkway, Suite 676

2/6/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/7/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/8/2018: 6:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd

2/8/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, 1920 West 1st Street

2/8/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/9/2018: 6:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd

2/9/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/9/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd

2/10/2018: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Best Buy Store 158, 1980 Griffith Rd

2/11/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/12/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

2/13/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification 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 have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive.

redcrossblood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.