INDIANA – The American Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels, and the American Red Cross is now facing an emergency blood shortage.
The Red Cross needs donors now and in the weeks ahead to help rebuild the blood supply.
Blood shortages are an ongoing issue nationwide. One shocking statistic has contributed to this problem: Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%.
When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion.
Blood products are going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.
“One of the most distressing situations for a doctor is to have a hospital full of patients and an empty blood bank without any blood on the shelves. Doctors often can’t operate without blood available to make surgeries, medical procedures, and treatments possible,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”
Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets, or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 8-31:
Bartholomew County
1/25/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bartholomew County Library, 536 5th Street in Hope
1/22/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hope Moravian Church, 202 Main Street in Columbus
Brown County
1/12/2024: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Brown County YMCA, 105 Willow Street in Nashville
Greene County
1/9/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Cincinnati Christian Church, 11432 SR 54 East in Bloomfield
1/22/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield, 401 Shyla Lane in Bloomfield
Martin County
1/11/2024: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Crane Building 77, 300 Highway 361 in Crane
Monroe County
1/13/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Grace Baptist Church – Bloomington, 2320 N Smith Pike in Bloomington
1/18/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bloomington Community RSMO, 401 North Morton Street in Bloomington
1/22/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Stonecroft Health Campus, 363 S Fieldstone Blvd in Bloomington
1/25/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bloomington Community RSMO, 401 North Morton Street in Bloomington
1/30/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Indiana University – Indiana Memorial Union, 900 E. 7th Street in Bloomington
