Blood Donors Needed In Dallas Area: Red Cross Drives Coming Up Soon

DALLAS, TX — The Red Cross has an emergency need for eligible blood donors as surgeries and other procedures ramp up as the coronavirus pandemic recedes.

The need is especially great for platelet donations, which are primarily given to cancer patients during treatment. Platelet donations must be transfused within five days and are always in high demand due to their short shelf life.

“Many cancer patients, especially those going through chemotherapy, will have a need for blood products during treatment,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross, in a statement. “When someone donates blood or platelets, they may not only help prevent life-threatening bleeding that can cause stroke, or relieve some symptoms like shortness of breath and headaches, but also give patients and their families the time and hope they need to fight back.”

Many cancer patients were forced to delay or cancel procedures early in the pandemic to reduce risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

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

• 6/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Haynie & Company, 12222 Merit Dr # 1900 (Dallas)
• 6/2/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Energy Transfer, 8020 Park Lane (Dallas)
• 6/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Speedway Children's Charities, 3575 Lone Star Circle (Fort Worth)
• 6/2/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Medical City Fort Worth, 900 8th Ave (Fort Worth)
• 6/3/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., East Lake Event Center, 8630 Thurgood Lane (Dallas)
• 6/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Shady Valley Country Club, 4001 W Park Row Drive (Arlington)
• 6/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Shops At Willow Bend, 6121 W. Park Blvd, Suite 1000 (Plano)
• 6/5/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Midway, 9509 Midway Rd (Dallas)
• 6/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 10701 E. Lake Highland Dr. (Dallas)
• 6/5/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6819 South Fm 549 (Rockwall)
• 6/6/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Dr. (Dallas)
• 6/7/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 420 S. Heartz Road (Coppell)
• 6/7/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Dr. (Dallas)
• 6/7/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Worth North - Northlake, 13261 Raceway Drive (Northlake)
• 6/8/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Element Hotel North DFW/Irving, 3550 Highway 635 (Irving)
• 6/9/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Crescent Real Estate, 200 Crescent Court (Dallas)
• 6/9/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Family Healthcare Associates, 1300 S. Fielder Rd. (Arlington)
• 6/10/2021: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., White Rock Family YMCA, 7112 Gaston Avenue (Dallas)
• 6/11/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Lowe's Euless, 3000 TX 121 (Euless)
• 6/11/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church - The Dock Building, 1701 11th Ave. (Fort Worth)
• 6/11/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Lowe's Lake Worth, 3500 northwest centre drive (Fort Worth)
• 6/12/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2801 Skyline Dr. (Mesquite)
• 6/12/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Freedom Place Church, 4113 Main Street (Rowlett)
• 6/12/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Forney, 414 W Broad St (Forney)
• 6/13/2021: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes, 5605 Bernal Dr (Dallas)
• 6/13/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Country Inn & Suites, 2000 Hard Rock Rd. (Irving)
• 6/14/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Northwest YMCA Fort Worth, 5315 Boat Club Road (Fort Worth)
• 6/14/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., BJ'S Restaurant Alliance # 496, 9401 Sage Meadow Trail (Fort Worth)
• 6/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Coppell Arts Center, 505 Travis Street (Coppell)
• 6/15/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church of Farmers Branch, 2807 Valwood Pkwy (Dallas)
• 6/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Texans Credit Union, 777 E Campbell Road (Richardson)
• 6/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Rosemeade Recreation Center, 1330 E. Rosemeade (Carrollton)
• 6/16/2021: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Trusted ER Uptown, 3607 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 100 (Dallas)
• 6/16/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Dr (Dallas)
• 6/16/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 81 Club, 2525 Rodeo Plaza (Fort Worth)

Click here to see more Red Cross blood drives in the Dallas 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.

All blood types are needed, especially type O, to refuel the country’s blood stockpile for the spring and summer.

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.