Lower Merion Area Blood Drives To Address Low Supplies

LOWER MERION, PA – Blood donations took a major blow during recent harsh weather that plagued the Philadelphia region for days. The American Red Cross said more than 150 blood drives in the are were forced to cancel, causing more than 5,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

This is in addition to seasonal illnesses, such as the flu, and hectic holiday schedules collectively contributing to more than 28,000 fewer donations than what were needed in November and December.

Luckily, the Lower Merion area can help bolster the supplies by donating at several upcoming blood drives.

Below are the blood drives planned in the Lower Merion area in January:

• 1/11/2018: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Lankenau Medical Center, 100 Lancaster Ave.
• 1/12/2018: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Lankenau Medical Center, 100 Lancaster Ave
• 1/15/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Temple Adath Israel, 250 N. Highland Ave.
• 1/15/2018: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Har Zion Temple, 1500 Hagys Ford Road
• 1/18/2018: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Road
• 1/20/2018: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Waldron Mercy Academy, 513 Montgomery Ave.
• 1/27/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Aquatic and Fitness Center, 601 Righters Ferry Road

While all blood types are urgently needed, there is a more critical need for the following blood and donation types right now:

• Platelets: The clotting portion of blood primarily given to cancer patients during treatment and always in great demand.
• Type O negative: The blood type that can be transfused to almost everyone and is what doctors reach for in trauma situations.
• Type B negative: The blood type that can be transfused to type B Rh-positive and negative patients.
• Type AB: The plasma type that can be transfused to almost everyone and can be donated through a platelet or plasma donation, where available, or during a regular blood donation.

Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the pre-donation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, by visiting redcrossblood.org/rapidpass from the convenience of a mobile device or computer, or through the Blood Donor App.

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