Central Oregon – The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors throughout the area to give blood or platelets following the recent winter storm, which has compounded a severe winter blood shortage.
Snow and icy roads forced 16 blood drives to cancel in the Pacific Northwest causing more than 450 donations to go uncollected. Last month, nearly 100 blood drives were forced to cancel across the country due to severe weather, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected. Overall, hectic holiday schedules for many regular blood donors and weather contributed to about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than what was needed.
“The need for blood doesn’t pause for severe weather – it’s constant,” said Neil Tosuntikool of the Pacific Northwest Red Cross Blood Services Region. “Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in. Eligible donors of all blood types are critically needed.”
In addition, for the first time, people wanting to make a lifesaving difference in Bend can now donate platelets at the American Red Cross Central Oregon Blood Donation Center.
On Saturday, Jan. 7, the donation center began collecting platelet donations for patients battling cancer and others with life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Platelets are the clotting portion of blood and are needed for many reasons, but they are primarily given to cancer patients. These tiny cells have a very short shelf life – just five days from the time they are donated – so there is a constant, often critical, need for new and current donors to give to keep up with hospital demand for platelets.
Every 30 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs platelets, and over 1 million platelet transfusions are given to patients each year.
How to help
Eligible donors can 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.
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.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Crook County
Prineville
Jan. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Bureau of Land Management Prineville, 3050 NE 3rd St.
Jan. 20 from noon to 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 450 SE Fairview Drive
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Deschutes County
Bend
Jan. 10 from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
Jan. 13 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
Jan. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
Jan. 17 from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
Jan. 19 from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at Latter-day Saints – Mountain View Ward, 1260 NE Thompson
Jan. 20 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond St. Suite 110
La Pine
Jan. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 52315 Huntington Road
Redmond
Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Latter-day Saints – Redmond OR Stake, 450 SW Rimrock
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Jefferson County
Madras
Jan. 18 from 1 to 6 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 49 NE 12th St.
