The American Red Cross has a critical shortage of type O blood and urges eligible donors to give now to help patients facing trauma and other life-threatening situations. As a thank-you for helping replenish the blood supply, all donors who come to give blood or platelets now through June 10 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Right now, the Red Cross has less than a two-day supply of type O blood available for emergency rooms, where it can be most critical. That means just six units of type O blood are available for every 100,000 people, but at least 14 are needed every day. While just 7% of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, it can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what hospital staff reach for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type and is also critical in trauma situations.

“All blood types are urgently needed, but we’re facing a critical shortage of type O blood – the blood group most needed by hospitals,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Because it’s vitally important for hospitals to have type O blood available when every second counts, type O donors are urged to donate now and make a point to donate often.” The Red Cross collected approximately 11,500 fewer type O blood donations than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. Spring break schedules are known to decrease blood donations, and schools, including high schools and colleges, begin to host fewer blood drives in late spring as school years end. Because these drives account for about 20% of blood donations during the school year, less drives can also greatly affect the blood supply.

Donations needed now

Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to urged to make an appointment to donate using the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Eligible donors with type O blood are encouraged to make a whole blood or Power Red donation, where available. During a Power Red donation, donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. In thanks, all those who come to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross May 1 through June 10, 2019, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.) Additionally, those who come to give May 24-28 will receive an exclusive Red Cross-branded T-shirt, while supplies last.

How to help

Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet 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). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass® are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the pre-donation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from the convenience of a mobile device or computer, or through the Blood Donor App. Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this summer by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 13-June 8:

• American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, Loess Hills Blood Donation Center 705 N. 16th St., Council Bluffs, IA 51503
• Audubon County: Audubon – 6/5/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Patrick’s Parish Center, 2050 Hwy 71 N; Exira – 5/21/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson
• Carroll County: Arcadia – 5/21/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 210 Head Street
• Cass County: Atlantic – 5/16/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street; 5/17/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School, 1201 East 14th Street; 5/29/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street
• Crawford County: Denison – 6/4/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 113 South 14th Street
• Harrison County: Logan – 5/22/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 108 West 4th Street; Missouri Valley – 5/23/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Rand Community/Senior Center, 100 S. 4th St; Mondamin – 6/3/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mondamin Community Center, 200 Maple St; Woodbine – 5/14/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Woodbine High School, 501 Weare St
• Mills County: Malvern – 6/5/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Malvern Library, 502 Main St
• Montgomery County: Red Oak – 5/20/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit; Villisca – 5/22/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave
• Page County: Clarinda – 5/14/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Regional Health Center, 220 Essie Davison Drive; 5/28/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 322 N 16th
• Pottawattamie County: Council Bluffs – 5/17/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Pottawattamie County Courthouse, 227 S. 6th St.; 5/31/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Avenue; 6/3/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., NP Dodge Real Estate, 1032 Woodbury Avenue; 6/7/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Rasmussen Mechanical Services, 3100 Nebraska Avenue; 6/7/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mercy Hospital, 800 Mercy Drive; Oakland – 6/4/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Community Center, 614 Dr. Van Zee Rd.
• Ringgold County: Mount Ayr – 5/14/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 201 W Monroe.
• Shelby County: Elk Horn – 5/23/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street; Harlan – 5/14/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview; Westphalia – 5/29/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St.
• Taylor County: Bedford – 5/15/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion Hall, 301 Main St
• Union County: Creston – 5/24/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Creston High School, 601 W. Townline