Red Cross emergency blood shortage: donors needed to combat low turnout

INDIANAPOLIS – The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood shortage that has caused the blood supply to drop to the lowest post- summer level in at least six years.

With less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks, the Red Cross asks donors of all blood types – especially type O − to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible to ensure patients can receive the lifesaving transfusions they rely on. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds from summer blood shortages, but a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. due to the delta variant has contributed to the lowest donor turnout of the year. To shore up inventory, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week this month to meet hospital and patient needs.

Locally, you can donate at these locations in Bloomington:

10/19/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Road
10/20/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bloomington Community RSMO, 401 North Morton Street
10/20/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Indiana Memorial Union, 900 E. 7th Street, Alumni Hall
10/21/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Monroe County YMCA – Southeast, 2125 S Highland Ave
10/22/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monroe County YMCA – Southeast, 2125 S Highland Ave
10/23/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Grace Baptist Church – Bloomington, 2320 N Smith Pike
10/29/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., St Paul Catholic Center, 1413 E 17th St

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