WS Chronicle

Special to The Chronicle

As the American Red Cross responds to Hurricane Florence, providing food, shelter and comfort to those affected, blood and platelet donors are urged to give when it’s safe to travel to care for patients in the storm’s path and across the country. People can also help by making a financial donation to support relief efforts.

Hurricane Florence’s wrath left catastrophic damage behind and took a toll on blood and platelet donations. Nearly 200 Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast were forced to cancel, resulting in more than 5,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In North Carolina, 57 blood drives were called off due to the storm, causing nearly 2,100 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

“Natural disasters like hurricanes can disrupt blood drives and prevent donors from giving, but hospital patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “There is an especially critical need for platelets to help cancer patients and type O blood donations for ongoing patient care and emergencies. Every donation can be a lifeline for patients.”

How to help

As conditions improve, donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and replenish the blood supply. Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS  (1-800-733-2767).

Financial donations are also needed and allow the Red Cross to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Up-to-date information about how the Red Cross is responding to Hurricane Florence is available at RedCross.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Forsyth County:

*Belews Creek

10/13/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Belews Creek Fire Department, 7675 Belews Creek Road

*Kernersville

10/15/2018: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, 205 South Main Street

*Pfafftown

10/9/2018: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ronald Reagan High School, 3750 Transou Road

*Winston Salem

10/4/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/5/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/6/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Olivet Moravian Church, 2205 Olivet Church road

10/7/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/8/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/9/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/10/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/11/2018: 6:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd

10/11/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, 1920 West 1st Street

10/11/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/11/2018: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., South Fork Church Of Christ, 205 Keating Drive

10/12/2018: 6:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd

10/12/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/12/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd

10/14/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive

10/14/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Shady Grove United Methodist Church, 167 Shady Grove Church Road

10/15/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Winston Salem Blood Donation Center, 650 Coliseum Drive