The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood and platelet shortage that has caused the blood supply to drop to the lowest post-summer level in at least six years.
With less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks, the Red Cross asks donors of all blood types – especially type O − to make an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible to ensure patients can receive the lifesaving transfusions they rely on. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds from summer blood shortages, but a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. due to the delta variant has contributed to the lowest donor turnout of the year. To shore up inventory, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week this month to meet hospital and patient needs.
All those who come to donate in October will receive a link by email to claim a free Zaxby’s Signature Sandwich reward or get a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Plus, all those who come to give Oct. 11-31 will receive a bonus $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Oct. 12 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Stover Community Center, 600 Legion Drive in Stover.
Oct. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. at Allen Street Baptist Church, 210 W. Allen in Clinton.
Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Knob Noster High School, 504 S. Washington in Knob Noster.
Oct. 19 from 1:30 to 6 p.m. at Warrensburg Community Center, 415 Commander in Warrensburg.
Oct. 20 from 1 to 6:15 p.m. at Knights of Columbus, South Osage in Tipton.
Oct. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1201 W. Broadway Blvd. in Sedalia.
Oct. 26 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Leeton High School, 500 N. Main in Leeton.
