WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 15, 2019) — 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.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 15-June 8:
DISTRICT of COLUMBIA
5/15/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/15/2019: 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., Elevation at Washington Gateway, 100 Florida Ave, NE
5/16/2019: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/17/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/17/2019: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Rayburn House Office Building, 45 Independence Ave Sw
5/17/2019: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Rayburn House Office Building, 45 Independence Ave Sw
5/18/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/19/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/20/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/21/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/22/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/23/2019: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/23/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Janney Elementary School, 4130 Albermarles St NW
5/24/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/25/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/26/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/27/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/28/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/29/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/30/2019: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
5/31/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/1/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/2/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/3/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/4/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/5/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/6/2019: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/7/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
6/8/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
Montgomery
Burtonsville
5/18/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Church of the Resurrection, 3315 Greencastle
6/3/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Liberty Grove United Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike
Chevy Chase
5/15/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 3 Chevy Chase Circle
Damascus
5/16/2019: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church Street
Gaithersburg
5/23/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Gaithersburg Public Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave
5/27/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Homewood Suites, 805 Russell Avenue
6/5/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Montgomery Cnty Public Safety, 100 Edison Park Drive
6/7/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, 8301 Turkey Thicket Drive
Germantown
5/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church-Germantown, 13700 Schaeffer Road
5/28/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Hallie Wells Middle School, 11701 Little Seneca Pkwy
5/29/2019: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, 19801 Observation Drive
Olney
5/24/2019: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Medstar Montgomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive
Rockville
5/15/2019: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/16/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/17/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/18/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/19/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/20/2019: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/21/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/22/2019: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/23/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/24/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/25/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/26/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/27/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/28/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/29/2019: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/30/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
5/31/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/1/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/2/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/3/2019: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/4/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/5/2019: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/6/2019: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/7/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
6/8/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive
Silver Spring
5/21/2019: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Seventh Day Adventists World HQ, 12501 Old Columbia Pike
5/24/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Montgomery Chapter House, 2020 East West Highway
5/30/2019: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Montgomery Chapter House, 2020 East West Highway
6/5/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Holy Cross Hospital, 1500 Forest Glen Road
6/6/2019: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Montgomery Chapter House, 2020 East West Highway
_______________
Prince Georges
Bowie
5/29/2019: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bowie City Gymnasium, 4100 Northview Drive
6/8/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Bowie Senior Center, 14900 Health Center Dr
Brandywine
5/30/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Baden Volunteer Fire Department, 16608 Brandywine Rd.
College Park
5/14/2019: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Moose College Park Lodge 453, 3700 Metzerott Road
Greenbelt
5/17/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Road
Lanham
5/23/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., I.U.E.C. Local 10 Main Building, 9600 Martin Luther King Blvd
Laurel
5/21/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tower Federal Credit Union, 7901 Sandy Spring Road
New Carrollton
5/28/2019: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., New Carrollton Municipal Bldg, City of New Carrollton, 6016 Princess Garden Parkway
Upper Marlboro
5/21/2019: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 14515 Church Street
_______________
VIRGINIA
Alexandria City
5/21/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alexandria Chapter House, 123 North Alfred St
5/23/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alexandria Chapter House, 123 North Alfred St
5/30/2019: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charles E. Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St
6/4/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alexandria Chapter House, 123 North Alfred St
_____________
Arlington
6/1/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ- LDS Arlington, 1600 N. Inglewood St
6/4/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 3304 Washington Blvd
_______________
Fairfax
Centreville
6/6/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., Centreville United Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Road.
Chantilly
5/31/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., COPT, 15049 Conference Center Drive
Fairfax
5/16/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/17/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/18/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/19/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/20/2019: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/21/2019: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/22/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/23/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/24/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/25/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/26/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/27/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/28/2019: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/29/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/30/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
5/31/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
6/1/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 200
6/2/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
6/3/2019: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
6/4/2019: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
6/5/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
6/6/2019: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Ctr, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Ste 200
6/7/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 200
6/8/2019: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 2720 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 200
Herndon
6/3/2019: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Cisco, 13600 Dulles Technology Dr
6/6/2019: 7 a.m. – 12 p.m., Dominion Virginia Power, 3072 Centreville Rd.
Reston
6/7/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Extended Stay America, 12190 Sunset Hills Rd
6/8/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd
Springfield
5/26/2019: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., South Run RECenter, 7550 Reservation Dr
______________
Fauquier
Bealeton
5/31/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Legion # 247, 6398 Village Center
Marshall
5/30/2019: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Fresta Valley Christian School, 6428 Wilson Rd
Warrenton
5/23/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Warrenton Baptist Church, 123 Main St
5/24/2019: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Blue Ridge Orthopaedic & Spine Center, 52 West Shirley Avenue
6/3/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fauquier Hospital, 500 Hospital Dr
6/6/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Greystone Servicing Corp., 419 Belle Air Lane
6/6/2019: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Warrenton Presbyterian Church, 91 Main St
_______________
Loudoun
5/16/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Paul Davis Restoration, 44601 Guilford Dr., Suite 100
Manassas City
5/16/2019: 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Manassas Volunteer Rescue, 9322 Center Street
5/27/2019: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Freedom Aquatics & Fitness Center, 10900 University Dr.
5/28/2019: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Prince William Police – CPU, 8900 Freedom Center Boulevard
6/3/2019: 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., St. Thomas United Methodist Church, 8899 Sudley Rd
6/7/2019: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus George Brent Council, 9290 Stonewall Rd.
_______________
Prince William
Gainesville
5/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Gainesville United Methodist Church, 13710 Milestone Ct.
Woodbridge
5/17/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Prince William County Government, 1 County Complex Ct
5/20/2019: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., PennFed Realty – Woodbridge, 2253A Old Bridge Rd
5/20/2019: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Hylton Education Center, 2300 Opitz Boulevard,
