Columbus Area Red Cross Blood Drives Coming Up Soon

COLUMBUS, OH — The nation's blood supply shortage has reached a critical point. The Red Cross and other organizations are urging people to donate soon.

There is an especially large demand for type O donations; the country has about a one-day supply of the highly needed blood type, according to the Red Cross.

Hospitals are treating a high number of traumatic injuries this summer. There is also high demand for organ transplants and elective surgeries.

The Red Cross has distributed about 12 percent more blood donations to hospitals across the U.S. this year compared with the same time last year.

People who donate blood during August will receive a free four-month subscription to Apple Music (new subscribers only). Those who donate between Aug. 1 and 15 will automatically be entered for a chance to win a VIP trip for two to the 2021 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Here are the Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Columbus area in the next few weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 8/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Polaris Fashion Place, 1540 Polaris Parkway (Columbus)
• 8/1/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/2/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/3/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/4/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/5/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/7/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/7/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., All Shepherd's Lutheran Church, 6580 Columbus Pike (Lewis Center)
• 8/8/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/9/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/10/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/11/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/12/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/14/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/15/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 8/3/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 3924 Home Road (Powell)
• 8/5/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Logos Bible Church, 623 Hill Rd. N (Pickerington)
• 8/12/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW (Pickerington)
• 8/15/2021: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Road (Pickerington)
• 8/5/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., C 3 Church, 6305 Waterloo Rd NW (Canal Winchester)
• 8/1/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 8/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hopewell-Columbus, 130 E. Chestnut St., Suite 100 (Columbus)
• 8/2/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 8/2/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westbelt Blood Donation Center, 4327 Equity Drive (Columbus)
• 8/2/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Worthington Christian Church, 8145 N. High Street (Columbus)
• 8/3/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 995 E. Broad Street (Columbus)
• 8/3/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 8/3/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Catharine Church, 470 S. Gould Rd. (Columbus)
• 8/4/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd (Columbus)
• 8/4/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 995 E. Broad Street (Columbus)
• 8/4/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 8/5/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Riverside Methodist Hospital, 3555 Olentangy River Road, Parking-Green Garage Area (Columbus)
• 8/5/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 8/5/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westbelt Blood Donation Center, 4327 Equity Drive (Columbus)
• 8/6/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)

Click here to see more Red Cross blood drives in the Columbus area, or search for others nearby.

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the American Red Cross. The local blood drives included in the list are limited to those at the time the Red Cross data was pulled. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org for the most current listing of drives. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com. Know of another blood drive coming up in your area? You can add it to the Patch calendar using this form.

People who have received a coronavirus vaccine can donate blood so long as they are symptom-free, feeling well and can provide the vaccine manufacturer's name, according to the American Red Cross. There is no waiting period after getting a vaccine dose.

In most states, donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health; some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent. Donors 18 years old and younger need to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. Appointments can be made via the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, online or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.