Hickory – Following a difficult Fourth of July week for blood and platelet donations and ongoing challenges finding new blood donors, the American Red Cross now faces a blood shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.

About 450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday with activities and travel. This led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients in a single week, causing the Red Cross to now have less than a three-day supply of most blood types available – and less than a two-day supply of type O blood – for patients. At least a five-day supply is desired.

“Medical emergencies and critical treatments don’t stop for holiday celebrations. Patients depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Right now, the Red Cross only has less than a three-day supply when we need a five-day supply to be prepared for all situations that require blood products. To help meet this need, we’ve added about 8,000 additional appointments at blood donation centers and community blood drives over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. But we need people to fill those appointments, please join us today.”

How to help
Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are 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). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

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 July 9-31

Alexander COUNTY
Hiddenite
7/24/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hiddenite Volunteer Fire Department, 4975 Hwy 90 East
Stony Point
7/13/2019: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Third Creek Baptist, 285 3rd Creek Road
Taylorsville
7/14/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Friendship Lutheran Church, 5300 Church Rd.
7/30/2019: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Salem Lutheran Church, 4005 NC-16 (North)

Burke COUNTY
Connellys Springs
7/15/2019: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Carolina Rehab Center, 3647 Miller Bridge Rd
Morganton
7/16/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 502 W. Union St.
7/26/2019: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., US Post Office Morganton, 320 Sanford Dr

Caldwell COUNTY
Granite Falls
7/16/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sawmills Volunteer Fire Dept, Hwy 321-A North
Lenoir
7/22/2019: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wal Mart, Blowing Rock Blvd
7/26/2019: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Lenoir Public Library, 120 Hospital Ave NW

Catawba COUNTY
Claremont
7/16/2019: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Boxcar Grille, 3140 N Oxford St
Conover
7/30/2019: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Concordia Lutheran, Concordia Lutheran Church, 215 5th Avenue SE
Hickory
7/16/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 547 6th Street NW
7/19/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hannah’s BBQ, 2391 N Center Street
Maiden
7/30/2019: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Mt Anderson Baptist Church, 4818 S NC 16

Cleveland COUNTY
Shelby
7/12/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Beaver Dam Baptist Church, 123 Beaver Dam Church Rd
7/24/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Gragg & Gragg, LLP, 9 East Marion Street
7/31/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Cleveland County Emergency Management, 1333 Fallston Rd
7/31/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sagebrush of Shelby, 1237 E Dixon Blvd

GASTON COUNTY
Gastonia
7/11/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s Gastonia, 3908 E Franklin Blvd
7/11/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s Gastonia, 3908 E Franklin Blvd
7/11/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s Gastonia, 3908 E Franklin Blvd
7/11/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s Gastonia, 3908 E Franklin Blvd
7/31/2019: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Southminster Presbyterian Ch, 1401 Hoffamn Rd
Mount Holly
7/11/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., City of Mount Holly, 400 east Central ave

Iredell COUNTY
7/28/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Harmony United Methodist, 136 W. Memorial Hwy
Mooresville
7/15/2019: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Fieldstone Presbyterian Church, 804 Fieldstone Rd.
7/18/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Prospect Presbyterian Church – Mooresville, 9425 West NC 152 Hwy
7/23/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., George Pappas Victory Lanes, 125 Morlake Dr
7/25/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Michael Weinig Inc., 124 Crosslake Park Drive
Statesville
7/9/2019: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Front St. Baptist, 1403 W. Front St.
7/10/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Statesville Family YMCA, 828 Welsey Dr
7/17/2019: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 815 Davie Ave.
7/21/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Friendship United Methodist Church, 907 Friendship Rd
7/22/2019: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lowe’s 0458, 140 North Pointe Blvd
7/22/2019: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Wesley Memorial UMC, 825 Wesley Dr.
7/24/2019: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hamer-Fischbein, 151 Walker Road
7/26/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Iredell Extension Center, 444 Bristol Dr
7/29/2019: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Grace Baptist, Club Drive
Troutman
7/25/2019: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist, 204 Mills Avenue

Lincoln COUNTY
Iron Station
7/29/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Faith Baptist Church, 5194 Old Plank Road
Lincolnton
7/31/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 401N General Blvd
Vale
7/15/2019: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Reepsville Baptist Church, 4287 Reepsville Road.