Donors needed: Red Cross seeks blood donations to offset seasonal decline
MILWAUKEE -- The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to help offset a seasonal decline in donations and prevent a shortage this summer by giving blood.
During June, July and August, there are about two fewer donors than needed at each Red Cross blood drive. This can add up to more than 100,000 fewer donations during the summer. Many schools that host blood drives are out of session, and vacation schedules can make regular donors less available – both contributing to the seasonal decline.
Donors of all blood types – especially those with types AB, O negative, A negative and B negative – are needed to help ensure blood products are available to hospital patients this summer. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types. Plasma helps maintain blood pressure and supplies critical proteins for clotting immunity. It is often needed for burn, trauma and cancer patients.
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Dodge County
Beaver Dam
7/17/2015: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Higher Grounds Coffee Shop & Get Fit Health Club, N7156 E Plaza Drive
7/24/2015: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Beaver Dam High School, 500 Gould St
Iron Ridge
7/27/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Michael's Lutheran Church, N4911 Gray Road
Juneau
7/28/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Juneau Community Center, 500 Lincoln
Fond du Lac County
Brandon
7/21/2015: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bethel Reformed Church, 305 W Main St
Campbellsport
7/21/2015: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 350 S Helena St
Fond du Lac
7/28/2015: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
Jefferson County
Fort Atkinson
7/22/2015: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 201 S Water St
Waterloo
7/17/2015: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., St Pauls Lutheran Church, 226 E Madison St
Watertown
7/20/2015: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Turner Hall, 301 S. 4th Street
7/21/2015: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Turner Hall, 301 S. 4th Street
Kenosha County
Kenosha
7/16/2015: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Assisi Homes of Kenosha, Inc., 1860 27th Ave
7/31/2015: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., CarMax, 8200 120th Ave.
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee
7/16/2015: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Schlitz Park Office Building, 1555 N River Center Dr
7/21/2015: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cherry Court, 1525 N. 24th St.
7/21/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lutheran Chapel of the Cross, 3353 S. Whitnall
7/31/2015: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Loving Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3909 W Clinton Ave
South Milwaukee
7/23/2015: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., South Milwaukee High School, 801 15th Ave
Wauwatosa
7/27/2015: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Mayfair, 2500 North Mayfair Road
Whitefish Bay
7/23/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Whitefish Bay High School, 1200 E Fairmount Ave
Ozaukee County
Grafton
7/17/2015: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kapco Metal Stamping, 983 Badger Circle
Sheboygan County
Sheboygan
7/16/2015: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 2032 Erie Ave
7/23/2015: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 2032 Erie Ave
7/30/2015: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 2032 Erie Ave
Sheboygan Falls
7/22/2015: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St Paul Lutheran Church, 730 County Rd PPP
Walworth County
East Troy
7/20/2015: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St -Hwy 20
Elkhorn
7/17/2015: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sperino's Monte Carlo Room, 720 N. Wisconsin St.
7/29/2015: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Alternative High School, 400 County Rd H
Lake Geneva
7/29/2015: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mercy Walworth Medical Center, N2950 State Road 67 and Hwy 50
Walworth
7/31/2015: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Big Foot High School, 401 Devils Ln
Washington County
Hartford
7/24/2015: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Hartford Parks & Recreation Department, 125 N Rural St
Jackson
7/20/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. John's Lutheran Church, 2881 Division Road
Waukesha County
Hartland
7/20/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Charles Catholic Parish & School, 313 Circle Drive
7/29/2015: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Lake Country Racquet & Athletic Club, 560 Industrial Drive
Muskego
7/24/2015: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Muskego Public Library, S73 W16663 Janesville Rd
Pewaukee
7/16/2015: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 2220 Silvernail Rd
7/21/2015: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 2220 Silvernail Rd
7/23/2015: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 2220 Silvernail Rd
7/28/2015: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 2220 Silvernail Rd
7/30/2015: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Invivo Corporation, N27 West 23676 Paul Road
7/30/2015: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 2220 Silvernail Rd
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 have to meet certain height and weight requirements.