Emergency Need For Blood Donors: Where To Donate In Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC — Fewer blood donors and blood drives last week have escalated the Red Cross call for all blood and platelet donors to meet hospital needs. More than 450 fewer blood drives were held than during a typical week the week of July 4 which may have led to as many as 17,000 fewer blood donations. (Find upcoming blood drives in the Charlotte area below.)

"Blood transfusions are one of the most common hospital procedures and blood donors play a critical role in ensuring there are enough products on the shelves to help patients in need," said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer, American Red Cross, in a news release. "Each day, kids battling cancer, accident victims being raced to the emergency room and mothers experiencing complicated childbirths rely on lifesaving blood. We need the public's help today to ensure we have enough blood to meet these dire needs."

Schedule your blood donation appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org.

The Red Cross has added about 8,000 appointments at blood donation centers and blood drives across the country in the coming weeks to handle more donors. You can find a blood drive in your area by using the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). Or, open the Red Cross Blood skill on an Alexa-enabled device with a selection of prompts such as, "Alexa, open Red Cross Blood Skill" and ask, for example, "Alexa, find a blood drive."

Upcoming scheduled blood donations sites in the region include:

Friday, July 12

• 6:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. — Charlotte Platelet Donation Center, 2425 Park Road, Charlotte

Saturday, July 13

• 7 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. — Charlotte Platelet Donation Center, 2425 Park Road, Charlotte
• 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425, Park Road, Charlotte

Sunday, July 14

• 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte
• 7 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. — Charlotte Platelet Donation Center, 2425 Park Road, Charlotte
• 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425, Park Road, Charlotte

Monday, July 15

• 11 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. — Charlotte Platelet Donation Center, 2425 Park Road, Charlotte
• 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. — Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425, Park Road, Charlotte

Eligible donors with types O negative and positive are asked to make a Power Red donation, where available. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact.

Anyone who is 17 years old in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.

Patch Editor Deb Belt contributed.