SALT LAKE CITY — The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply.

Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply.

In addition, the Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4.

“Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” said Tammy Kikuchi Nakamura, external communications manager of the Lewis and Clark blood services region. “Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks. If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.”

How to Help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS telephone 1-800-733-2767.

The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give.

Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.

Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world.

Who Blood Donations Help

Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

Because of generous donors, the Red Cross is able to provide blood products to patients like 11-year-old Mae Rainey, who needs regular blood transfusions as part of her treatment for a blood disorder.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities that the Red Cross has given us to get her to her healthiest state,” said Caleb Rainey, Mae’s older brother.

Watch Mae’s story to learn how blood donations can make a lifesaving difference.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Washington County

• Hurricane – Wal-Mart, 180 No. 3400 West – July 15, 1:30 p.m.
• LaVerkin City Center, 111 S. Main Street – July 25, 1-7 p.m.
• St. George Recreation Center, 285 S. 400 East – July 5, noon-6 p.m.
• St. George Blood Donation Center, 476 E. Riverside Drive, Suite B6
  • July 5, 1-5 p.m.
  • July 6, 1-7:30 p.m.
  • July 8, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • July 9, 9, a.m.-1 p.m.
  • July 11, 1-6 p.m.
  • July 15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • July 18, 1-6 p.m.
  • July 22, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • July 25, 1-6 p.m.
• St. George – Best Western Abbey Inn, 1129 S. Bluff St. – July 18, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Dixie State University, Gardner Student Center, 225 S. 700 East – July 19, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• St. George – LDS Stake Center, 1130 East Brigham Road – July 20, 2-7 p.m.
• St. George – Harmons, 1189 E. 700 South – July 21, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Santa Clara – Valley Chapel, 3040 W. Santa Clara Drive – July 14, 2-7 p.m.
• Santa Clara – Harmons, 3520 Pioneer Parkway – July 20, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Springdale – Maintenance Yard, Zion National Park, state Route 9 – July 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Washington City Community Center, 350 N. Community Center Drive – July 7, 3-7:30 p.m.

Iron County

• Cedar City Library, 303 N. 100 East – July 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Garfield County

• Escalante, LDS Stake center, 80 South Center – July 11, 1:30-7 p.m.
• Panguitch – Triple C Arena, 50 E. 900 North – July 13, 12:30-6 p.m.
• Tropic – Escalante Utah LDS Stake Tropic Church, 41 N. 100 West – July 12, 2-6 p.m.

Emery County

• Castle Dale LDS Stake center, 32 N. Center – July 21, 1-7 p.m.
• Ferron LDS Stake center, 200 North Building, 35 W. 200 North – July 5, 1:30-7 p.m.

Sanpete County

• Ephraim Co-op, 96 North Main – July 5, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Ephraim Wal-Mart, 777 N. Main Street – July 11, 10 a.m.-2:15 p.m.

Sevier County

• Richfield Utah and Richfield East LDS Stakes, 801 N. 500 East – July 6, 1:30-7 p.m.
• Salina Utah LDS Stake, 98 West 400 North – July 21, 1-7 p.m.

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.

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