Red Cross seeks donors amid blood shortage

Emily Balser | Monday, January 14, 2019 11:57 a.m.

Staff

This file photo shows Red Cross employee Bob Otwell preparing blood products including FFP, whole blood and platelets for distribution to nearby hospitals.

The American Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types on hand and is seeking donors to help alleviate a blood shortage it has experienced since the holidays.

During the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, the organization collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply.

The three-day supply is below the ideal five-day supply needed to respond to emergencies and daily hospital needs, the organization said.

The Red Cross worries winter weather will have a negative effect on donations. Snow, ice and extreme temperatures last January and February forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations.

All eligible donors, especially platelet donors and blood donors with type O blood, are urged to make an appointment to donate as soon as possible.

Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the Blood Donor App, visiting www.redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-733-2767. Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from worsening this winter.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Allegheny County

Coraopolis

Feb. 8: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., John Jay Center, 6001 University Blvd.

McKeesport

Feb. 11: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Penn State University Student Community Center, 4000 University Dr.

Pittsburgh

Jan. 14: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Rivers Club, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant St., Suite 411

Jan. 18: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., O’Hara Student Center, 4024 O’Hara St.

Jan. 23: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St.

Jan. 25: 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Carnegie Mellon University University Center, 5000 Forbes Ave.

Jan. 29: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Chatham University Eastside, 6585 Penn Ave.

Jan. 30: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., O’Hara Student Center, 4024 O’Hara St.

Feb. 7: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Zappala College Center, 9000 Babcock Blvd.

Feb. 8: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., University of Pittsburgh William Pitt Union Bldg, 920 William Pitt Union

Armstrong County

Kittanning

Jan. 28: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Worthington Ministers, c/o Center Hill Church of the Brethren, 2039 Freeport Road

Butler County

Butler

Feb. 5: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 West Jefferson St.

Slippery Rock

Feb. 12: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Robert N. Smith Center, Campus Dr.

Westmoreland County

Greensburg

Jan. 14: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Charter Oak Church, 449 Frye Farm Road

Jan. 23: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Greensburg Blood Donation Center, 351 Harvey Ave.

Jan. 30: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Univ of Pittsburgh Smith Hall Lounge, 150 Finoli Dr.

Jan. 30: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., McKenna Center, 971 Old Salem Road

Feb. 7: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Seton Hill University McKenna Center, Seton Hill Dr.

Feb. 13: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Greensburg Blood Donation Center, 351 Harvey Ave.

Irwin

Feb. 11: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Excela Square Norwin, 8775 Norwin Ave.

Jeannette

Jan. 24: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Ascension Church, 621 Division St.

Latrobe

Feb. 12: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road

Murrysville

Jan. 24: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Mother of Sorrows Church, 4202 Old William Penn Highway

Scottdale

Jan. 23: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 201 Market St.

Emily Balser is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Emily at 724-226-4680, emilybalser@tribweb.com or via Twitter @emilybalser.