Urgent Blood Drive Coming To Avon

AVON, OH — The American Red Cross has issued urgent pleas for blood donations in the past month, saying the organization desperately needs both blood and platelet donors. On Thursday, the Red Cross will come to Avon for a much-needed blood drive.

The Emerald Event Center, 33040 Just Imagine Drive, will host the blood drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Donors can receive a meal and a free gift, while supplies last.

In mid-November, the Red Cross sent out an unprecedented plea for blood donations. After two devastating hurricanes, Michael and Florence, and a significant drop in blood donors, the organization faces a crushing shortage of blood.

More than 130 blood drives are needed in Northeast Ohio alone to remedy the shortage and keep it from continuing through the winter. Donations tend to decline during the holidays, when many groups postpone their blood drives, and regular donors travel.

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"Only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate. However, less than 10 percent of those who are eligible actually donate," the Red Cross wrote on Patch. "Time and time again, people state the reason they never considered donating blood was simply because they were never asked. Well Northeast Ohio, consider yourself asked!"

Donors can schedule an appointment with the Red Cross using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). In mid-November 2018, the Red Cross posted on Patch, sharing details of its shortage and how residents could help.

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