Emergency blood and platelet shortage: Red Cross supplies drop to lowest post-summer levels since 2015

Donor turnout sharply declines while patient needs remain high

(Sept. 27, 2021) — The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood and platelet shortage and must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month for the blood supply to recover and meet hospital and patient needs. Donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to give now and in the weeks ahead to overcome this current shortage.

Blood donor turnout has reached the lowest levels of the year as many delayed giving amid a return to the workplace and in-person learning, as well as a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the country due to the delta variant. As cases spiked in August, blood donor participation decreased about 10%, but blood product distributions to hospitals have remained strong, significantly outpacing blood donations in recent weeks.

Historically low inventory levels

The national Red Cross blood inventory is the lowest it’s been at this time of year since 2015, with less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks. The supply of types O positive and O negative blood, the most needed blood types by hospitals, dropped to less than a half-day supply at times over the last month − well below the ideal five-day supply.

“Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds as donors are more available to give than during the busy summer months, but this year has presented a unique and serious challenge,” said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer for the Red Cross. “While it’s clear the pandemic continues to weigh heavily on our minds, the Red Cross asks the public to remember donating blood and platelets is essential to the many patients that rely on lifesaving transfusions every day.”

Don’t wait. People across the country depend on the generosity of blood donors. Make an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

• As a thank-you, all those who come to donate through Sept. 30 and help tackle the emergency blood shortage will receive a limited-edition football-inspired T-shirt while supplies last, plus a coupon for a free haircut via email from Sport Clips Haircuts.*
• All those who come to donate in October will receive a link by email to claim a free Zaxby’s^® Signature Sandwich reward or get a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.**

Blood drive safety

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 27-Oct.15

Perry

Junction City

10/23/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., American Legion Hall, 110 Logan St.

New Lexington

10/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St.

Somerset

10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Somerset American Legion, 107 East Gay St.

Thornville

9/30/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sheridan High School, 8725 Sheridan Road

10/9/2021: 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Thornville Masonic Lodge, 44 E. Columbus Street

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Athens

Albany

10/18/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., VFW Post 9893, 3025 Dickson Rd.

Athens

9/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

10/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Schoonover Center, Schoonover Center, 20 W Union Street

10/7/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Richland United Methodist Church, 60 Pomeroy Rd

10/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Schoonover Center, Schoonover Center, 20 W Union St

10/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Baker Center, Baker Center Ballroom, 1 Park Place

10/28/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

Nelsonville

10/20/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hocking College Recreation Center, 3301 Hocking Parkway

The Plains

10/11/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Plains United Methodist Church, 3 North Plains Rd

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Coshocton

Coshocton

10/6/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High Street

10/6/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High Street

Walhonding

10/18/2021: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., New Castle Church, 32421 US RT 36

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Fairfield

Amanda

10/19/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Amanda Fire Department, 211 No. Johns Street

Baltimore

10/19/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., VFW Post 3761, 2155 Reynoldsburg Baltimore Rd.

Bremen

9/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bremen United Methodist Church, 205 Walnut St

Carroll

10/9/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hope Community Church of the Nazarene, 3570 Coonpath Rd.

Lancaster

10/1/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Fairfield Christian Academy, 1965 N. Columbus St.

10/4/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 343 E. Walnut St.

10/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 343 E. Walnut St.

10/12/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fairfield County Job and Family Services, 239 W. Main Street

10/14/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fairfield County Job & Family Services, 239 W. Main Street

10/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Mark Church, 324 Gay St.

10/20/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Mary Catholic Church, 245 E. Chestnut

10/26/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Johns Family Community Blood Drive, 343 E. Walnut St.

Millersport

10/6/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Millersport Lions Club, 2900 Chautauqua Blvd

Pickerington

10/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Violet Baptist Church, 8345 Blacklick Eastern Road

10/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Logos Bible Church, 623 Hill Rd. N

10/10/2021: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Road

10/12/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Road NW

10/21/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW

10/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW

10/28/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus, 1010 Refugee Road

10/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW

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Fayette

Jeffersonville

10/2/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 23 S. Main St.

Washington Court House

10/12/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 301 East Market Place

10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Adena Fayette Medical Center, 1510 Columbus Ave

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Guernsey

Byesville

10/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Stop Nine Church, 60325 Southgate Road

10/21/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Meadowbrook High School - Colts Out for Blood, 58615 Marietta Road

10/21/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Meadowbrook High School - Colts Out for Blood, 58615 Marietta Road

Cambridge

10/9/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street

10/19/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street

10/19/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street

Lore City

10/22/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Buckeye Trail High School, 65555 Wintergreen Rd

Senecaville

10/15/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Mideast Career Center Buffalo, 57090 Vocational Road

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Highland

Hillsboro

10/16/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fall Creek Friends Church, 11345 Karnes Rd

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Licking

Etna

9/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Daybreak Church, 1226 Pike Street

10/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Daybreak Church, 1226 Pike Street

Hebron

10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hebron New Life United Methodist Church, 925 West Main ST

Johnstown

10/18/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Ascension Worship Center, 555 South Main St

Newark

9/28/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Trek Brewing Company, 1486 Granville Rd

9/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/1/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/8/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/12/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/15/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/19/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/22/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Trek Brewing Company, 1486 Granville Rd

10/26/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

10/27/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Granville, 1000 Granville Rd

10/29/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

Pataskala

10/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., West Licking County Family YMCA, 355 West Broad Street

Utica

10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Utica Church of Christ, 115 North Central Avenue

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Madison

London

10/1/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fairhaven School, 510 Elm Street

10/8/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., St. Patrick Church, 61 S. Union Street

Plain City

10/23/2021: 7 a.m. - 12 p.m., Maranatha Community Fellowship, 6240 Lucas Rd.

10/30/2021: 7 a.m. - 12 p.m., Journey Community Church, 11100 Lafayette-Plain City Road

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Morgan

Malta

10/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Malta United Methodist Church, 212 Main Street

McConnelsville

9/30/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Morgan High School, 800 Raider Drive

Stockport

9/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Stockport United Methodist Church, 3455 Market St.

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Muskingum

Adamsville

10/25/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Adamsville Community Center, 8200 Madison Road

Roseville

10/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 71, 74 S. Main Street

South Zanesville

9/28/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Maysville High School, 3725 Panther Drive

10/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fink's Harley Davidson Fall Drive, 2650 Maysville Pike

Zanesville

10/11/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road

10/25/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road

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Noble

Caldwell

9/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Community Center, 44187 Fairgrounds Rd

10/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Community Center, 44187 Fairgrounds Rd

Sarahsville

10/4/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Shenandoah High School, 49346 SR 147

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Perry

Junction City

10/23/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., American Legion Hall, 110 Logan St.

New Lexington

10/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St.

Somerset

10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Somerset American Legion, 107 East Gay St.

Thornville

9/30/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sheridan High School, 8725 Sheridan Road

10/9/2021: 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Thornville Masonic Lodge, 44 E. Columbus Street

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Pickaway

Circleville

9/29/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Circleville High School, 380 Clark Drive

10/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickaway County District Public Library, 1160 North Court Street

10/13/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 135 East Mound Street

South Bloomfield

10/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., South Bloomfield Community Blood Drive, 5000 Park Place

Williamsport

9/29/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Westfall High School, 19463 Pherson Pike

10/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Crown Hill Golf Course, 9500 US-22

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Ross

Bainbridge

9/30/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Paint Valley High School, 7454 U.S. Route 50

10/15/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tri-County Community Building, 4715 St. Rt. 41

Chillicothe

10/7/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Adena Regional Medical Center, 446 Hospital Road

10/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St

10/25/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Christian Life Tabernacle, 3017 Egypt Pike

10/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., St. Mary's Catholic Church, 40 E. 4th Street

10/28/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Tabernacle Baptist Church, 221 E. Main St.

10/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., iHeartMEDIA Blood Bash at the South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St

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Tuscarawas

Newcomerstown

10/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 121 South College Street

Save time during donation

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Health insights for donors

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require trait-negative blood. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit www.Redcross.org/centralandsouthernoh or cruzrojaamericana.org, or join us on Twitter and Facebook @ARCcsor

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*Terms and conditions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Sport-Clips.

**Terms and conditions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Zaxbys.