Blood donations needed now to prevent delays in care for patients like Diego Hernandez

CHARLOTTE, N.C., (Jan. 4, 2017) — The American Red Cross has a severe winter blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for blood and platelet donors to make a donation appointment now and help save patient lives.

Hectic holiday schedules for many regular blood donors contributed to about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than what was needed. Snowstorms and severe weather have also impacted donations. About 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 Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services. “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). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites for more donors to give blood or platelets. Overall, the Red Cross has added nearly 200 hours to blood donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help speed up the donation process.

“In about an hour, you can help save someone’s life. This simple act can have a profound impact on another human being,” said Gehrig.

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.

Diego Hernandez was diagnosed with Von Willebrand Disease as a toddler. He is now 13 years old, and has been receiving regular blood transfusions for months.

“I have watched as my son laid lifeless on the ER bed. He came back to life once they started infusing him,” said Andrea, Diego’s mom. Today she gets to see her son play and live somewhat of a normal life because of blood donors. “I don’t think I could ever tell someone how grateful I am to them when they donate. I know that without these generous people, I would not have my son.”

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

NC

Alexander

Hiddenite
1/19/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hiddenite Elementary School, 374 Sulpher Springs Road

Taylorsville
1/6/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church – Taylorsville, 1400 NC Hwy 16 South
1/15/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Friendship Lutheran Church, 5300 Church Rd.
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Anson

Wadesboro
1/17/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 309 Lee Avenue
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Burke

Connelly Springs
1/11/2017: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Shady Grove United Methodist Church, 6908 Oak Ridge Church Rd

Morganton
1/12/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., J. Iverson Riddle Development Center, 300 Enola Rd

Rutherford College
1/8/2017: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Crosslink Church, 400 Malcolm Blvd
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Cabarrus

Concord
1/10/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., ACN, 1000 Progress Place
1/16/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Cabarrus VIP at First Presbyterian Church, 39 Church Street

Kannapolis
1/20/2017: 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Unity United Methodist Church – Kannapolis, 8605 Unity Church Road
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Caldwell

Granite Falls
1/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 4849 Burns Rd

Lenoir
1/10/2017: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mulberry Recreation Center, 720 Mulberry St
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Catawba

Claremont
1/12/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Oxford Elementary School, 5915 Oxford School Road

Conover
1/6/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Conover Fire Dept, Conover Blvd & Thornburg Dr
1/10/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Woodlawn Baptist Church, 440 7th St Pl SW
1/11/2017: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hanes, 500 N McLinn Creek Rd
1/18/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 217 Second Ave NE

Hickory
1/6/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Hickory Masonic Lodge, 30 Catawba Boulevard
1/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 2120 Startown Rd
1/10/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., St Aloysius Catholic Church, 921 2nd Street NE
1/14/2017: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church, 9379 NC Hwy 127
1/16/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Methodist Men Bethlehem, 9042 NC Hwy 127 North
1/18/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lake Hickory Country Club, 430 17th Avenue NW

Newton
1/16/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., New Hope Moravian Church, 2897 Sandy Ford Road

Sherrills Ford
1/16/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Sherrills Ford Presbyterian, 8491 Sherrills Ford Rd
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Cherokee

Andrews
1/9/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Andrews United Methodist Church, 101 Chestnut Street

Murphy
1/17/2017: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church, 1650 North Carolina 141
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Cleveland

Fallston
1/18/2017: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Fallston Elementary School, 112 Gary St.

Shelby
1/12/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Landmark Baptist Church, 1724 East Dixon Blvd
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Iredell

Mooresville
1/6/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charles Mack Citizens Center, 215 North Main St.
1/7/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., George Pappas Victory Lanes, 125 Morlake Dr
1/14/2017: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., St. Therese Catholic, 217 Brawley School Rd.

Statesville
1/4/2017: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace Baptist, Club Drive
1/5/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., STATESVILLE FITNESS AND ACTIVITY, 1875 Simonton Rd
1/6/2017: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Statesville Civic Center, 300 S. Center St.
1/6/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Statesville Civic Center, 300 S. Center St.
1/17/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Front St. Baptist, 1403 W. Front St.

Union Grove
1/8/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Union Grove Christian Church, 1851 W. Memorial Hwy
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Lincoln

Denver
1/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Denver United Methodist Church, 3910 HWY 16

Lincolnton
1/5/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., First Federal Savings Bank, 320 East Main Street
1/13/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lincoln Charter School, 133 Eagle Nest Road

Vale
1/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Reeps Grove United Methodist Church, 7104 Reeps Grove Church Road
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Mecklenburg

Charlotte
1/4/2017: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/5/2017: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/6/2017: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/7/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/8/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/9/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/10/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/11/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/11/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wells Fargo Atrium, 301S Tryon St
1/12/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 East 4th Street
1/12/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Bank of America Founders Hall, 100 North Tryon Street
1/12/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/13/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/14/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/15/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St John Neumann Catholic Church, 8451 Idlewild Road
1/15/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/16/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/17/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/18/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/19/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/20/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/21/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 517 Baldwin Ave.
1/21/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road
1/22/2017: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Rd.
1/22/2017: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 4519 Providence Rd.
1/22/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

Davidson
1/9/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 South Main Street

Huntersville
1/6/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110
1/7/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110
1/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110
1/13/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110
1/14/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110
1/16/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110
1/20/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110
1/21/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

Matthews
1/13/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Sam’s Club – Matthews, 1801 Windsor Square Dr
1/19/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, 1500 Matthews Township Pkwy.
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Montgomery

Star
1/21/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Montgomery County Community Health Center, 103 Cotton Creek Road
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Richmond

Ellerbe
1/20/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church Ellerbe, 2116 Main St

Hamlet
1/10/2017: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hamlet Masonic Lodge, 307 Main St
1/18/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Richmond Community College Cole Auditorium, 1042 W Hamlet Avenue

Rockingham
1/5/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Jefferson Park Freewill Baptist Church, 308 Forrest St.
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Stanly

Albemarle
1/10/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Red Cross Albemarle, 243 West Main Street

Locust
1/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Locust Presbyterian Church, 607 West Main St
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Union

Matthews
1/14/2017: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Assembly of God Church, 6800 Stevens Mill Road

Monroe
1/18/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Red Cross Chapter Monroe, 608 East Franklin Street
1/19/2017: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monroe Aquatic Center, 2325 Hanover Drive
1/20/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Agricultural Conference Center, 3230 Presson Road

SC

Lancaster

Lancaster
1/4/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster, 700 N Main St
1/5/2017: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Comporium, 969 SC 9 Bypass W
1/19/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Springs Memorial Hospital, 800 West Meeting Street
1/20/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Church of Good Shepherd, 1005 University Drive
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York

Clover
1/20/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Clover Public Library, 107 Knox Street

Rock Hill
1/13/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., York County Library System, 138 East Black Street
1/19/2017: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Family Trust Center, 225 West White Street

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports 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 perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.