INDIANA (WTHI) – The American Red Cross reports there is a severe winter blood shortage and they are issuing and emergency call for blood and platelet donors.
Officials report due to busy holiday schedules, the usual donations in November and December was about 37,000 donations fewer than what was needed. Nearly 100 blood drives were forced to cancel in December, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected.
“Blood and platelet donations are critically needed in the coming days so that patients can continue to receive the lifesaving treatments they are counting on,” said Rodney Wilson, communications manager for Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. “We encourage donors to invite a family member or friend to donate with them to help meet patient needs. Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”
How to help:
Find a blood 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).
“In about an hour, you can help save someone’s life. This simple act can have a profound impact on another human being,” said Wilson.
Who blood donations help:
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood to save their lives.
The treatments high school freshman Payton Kannarr receives to fight leukemia cause her blood counts to drop. She currently receives platelet transfusions weekly and red blood cells about every two weeks.
“We have seen firsthand the incredible need for blood products as we have been on this four-year roller coaster journey,” said Amy Kannarr, Payton’s mom. “Through the care and compassion of donors, Payton has been able to enjoy life as a teenager.”
Below is the list of upcoming events by county.
Delaware County
Albany
1/20/2017: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Albany Elementary School, 700 West State Street
Muncie
1/11/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pruis Hall, McKinley Avenue
1/19/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saint Francis of Assisi, 1200 W Riverside Ave
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Hamilton County
Fishers
1/7/2017: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Kroger, 11700 Olio Road
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Madison County
Anderson
1/6/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hoosier Park, 4500 Dan Patch Circle
1/10/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ponderosa Steakhouse, 5009 S Scatterfield Road
Pendleton
1/9/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church Pendleton, 225 West State Street
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Marion County
Indianapolis
1/4/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Vincent Hospital, 2000 West 86th Street
1/6/2017: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Fort Benjamin Harrison Community, 8950 Otis Avenue
1/12/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Taylor Hall, 815 West Michigan
1/13/2017: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., St. Vincent Heart Center, 10580 North Meridian
1/13/2017: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Penske Automotive Group, 4140 East 96th St
1/21/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Marriott North, 3645 River Crossing Parkway
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Putnam County
Coatesville
1/4/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Heritage Lake Clubhouse, 1000 Clubhouse Road
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Bartholomew County
Columbus
1/6/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., La QUINTA, 101 Carrie Lane
1/10/2017: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cummins Plant # 1, 500 Central Ave.
1/13/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., La QUINTA, 101 Carrie Lane
1/13/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Peter’s Lutheran School, 719 Fifth Street
1/20/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., La QUINTA, 101 Carrie Lane
Hope
1/9/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Hope Moravian Church, 202 Main Street
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Brown County
Nashville
1/18/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 1750 East State Road 46
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Decatur County
Greensburg
1/5/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Walmart, 710 E. Freeland Rd.
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Greene County
Linton
1/4/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Linton Public Library, 95 SE 1st St
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Johnson County
Franklin
1/9/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Walmart, 2125 North Morton
1/22/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Johnson County Armory – HHC 219, 325 Minute Man Way
Whiteland
1/7/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., SouthPointe Church, 70 West St.
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Lawrence County
Bedford
1/14/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Crossroads Church Bedford, 5000 Hwy 37 & Trogden Ln
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Monroe County
Bloomington
1/4/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/5/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/7/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/8/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Indiana Army National Guard – Bloomington, 3380 South Walnut Street
1/11/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/12/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/12/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Indiana University Ashton Residence Center, 1800 East 10th Street
1/14/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/15/2017: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 219 E. 4th Street
1/17/2017: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Hutton Honors College, 811 East Seventh Street
1/18/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/19/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
1/20/2017: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Indiana University Cyberinfrastructure Building, 2709 East 10th Street
1/21/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
Ellettsville
1/21/2017: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., HealthSource, 403 W. Temperance
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Vermillion County
Clinton
1/17/2017: 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Central Elementary School, 208 S. 9th Street
