Perry County, Ohio issued the following announcement on February 10.
Severe winter weather intensifying Red Cross blood crisis
February 8, 2022 — As severe winter storms continue to move through the country, the American Red Cross asks members of the community to schedule the earliest-available blood or platelet donation appointments in their area once it is safe to give. Dangerous snow and ice conditions have contributed to about 600 blood drive cancellations across the country since the beginning of the year, resulting in nearly 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In the Central & Southern Ohio region, 27 blood drives have been canceled, resulting in 803 donations uncollected due to the recent snow/ice storm.
Severe winter weather intensifying Red Cross blood crisis
Hundreds of blood drives canceled due to storms
February 8, 2022 — As severe winter storms continue to move through the country, the American Red Cross asks members of the community to schedule the earliest-available blood or platelet donation appointments in their area once it is safe to give.
Dangerous snow and ice conditions have contributed to about 600 blood drive cancellations across the country since the beginning of the year, resulting in nearly 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In the Central & Southern Ohio region, 27 blood drives have been canceled, resulting in 803 donations uncollected due to the recent snow/ice storm.
Since the Red Cross issued its first-ever blood crisis in January, thousands of generous donors have come forward to give, but patient care remains at risk. The threat of winter weather continues − as well as ongoing complications posed by the omicron variant – and could further complicate efforts to rebuild the blood supply.
More donors are needed to make appointments now for the weeks ahead to help ensure accident victims, cancer patients and new mothers experiencing complicated childbirths have access to lifesaving blood product transfusions without delay. Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
All who come to give blood or platelets Feb. 1-28, 2022, will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon.*
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Perry County
New Lexington
2/18/2022: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St.
2/23/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Lexington High School, 2547 Panther Drive
2/26/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Rose Catholic Church, 120 N. High St
Somerset
2/17/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Somerset American Legion, 107 East Gay St.
Thornville
2/24/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sheridan High School, 8725 Sheridan Road
_______________
Athens County
Albany
2/9/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Alexander High School, 6091 Ayers Road
Athens
2/17/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Richland United Methodist Church, 60 Pomeroy Rd
2/22/2022: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., O'Bleness Hospital, 55 Hospital Drive
2/23/2022: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Schoonover Center, Schoonover Center, 20 W Union St
The Plains
2/14/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Plains United Methodist Church, 3 North Plains Rd
_______________
Coshocton County
Coshocton
2/9/2022: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High Street
2/9/2022: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High Street
_______________
Guernsey County
Cambridge
2/22/2022: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street
2/22/2022: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street
2/26/2022: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cambridge Area YMCA Family Center, 1301 Clairmont Ave
_______________
Licking County
Etna
2/24/2022: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Daybreak Church, 1226 Pike Street
Granville
2/17/2022: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Denison University, 100 West College
Johnstown
2/21/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Ascension Worship Center, 555 South Main St
Newark
2/11/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
2/15/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
2/19/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Elks Lodge, 73 North Third Street
2/23/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Trek Brewing Company, 1486 Granville Rd
Pataskala
2/17/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., West Licking County Family YMCA, 355 West Broad Street
Utica
2/24/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Utica Church of Christ, 115 North Central Avenue
_______________
Muskingum County
Zanesville
2/21/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road
2/22/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Secrest Auditorium, 334 Shinnick Street
_______________
Perry County
New Lexington
2/18/2022: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St.
2/23/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Lexington High School, 2547 Panther Drive
2/26/2022: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Rose Catholic Church, 120 N. High St
Somerset
2/17/2022: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Somerset American Legion, 107 East Gay St.
Thornville
2/24/2022: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sheridan High School, 8725 Sheridan Road
Health insights for donors
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
Blood drive safety
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device 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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
Original source can be found here.
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