Emergency Blood Donations Needed Says Red Cross

The American Red Cross says there is a critical shortage of blood at hospitals nationwide, and issued an emergency plea for donors to give blood.

The organization on Monday asked residents to donate blood and platelets to help replenish the nation's blood supply.

“Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” Nick Gehrig, communications director for Red Cross Blood Services, said in a statement. “Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks. If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.”

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Anyone who is 17 years old (16 with parental consent in most states), weighs at least 110 pounds and is 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.

According to the Red Cross, blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, the organization said.

The Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4.

To schedule an appointment to donate, use Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give.

Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.

There are local blood drives scheduled in Montgomery County (Gaithersburg, Germantown Rockville, Silver Spring and Wheaton) during the next week. You can find more information, here.

You can find blood drives planned in Anne Arundel County -- Crofton, Severn, Gambrills -- in the next two weeks here.

In Columbia, you can give blood at the Columbia Blood Donation Center, 10400 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 400, Wednesday through Sunday. Check the link for times, which vary.

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