The American Red Cross encourages donors to give blood or platelets now to help protect the blood supply from the ongoing impact of severe winter weather and wildfires. Donors of all blood types – particularly type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets – are needed to help save lives.
As dangerous snow and ice continue to sweep across the country, and wildfires in Southern California continue to burn and impact air quality, Red Cross blood drive cancellations have grown into the hundreds. Collectively, this has resulted in more than 12,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations in January.
More winter storms – including in areas of the U.S. that do not typically experience significant snowfall − could place further strain on the blood supply. Additionally, hazardous weather conditions make it tougher to move vital blood products across the Red Cross network, possibly affecting deliveries to hospitals in some locations. As National Blood Donor Month continues, the time to give is now.
Where it is safe to do so, donors are asked to book a time to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting http://RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
All who donate between January 27 and February 28, 2025 will get a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. See http://RedCrossBlood.org/Flurry for details.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
•January 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Westside Family YMCA, 920 Elmgrove Road, Rochester;
•January 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Leo’s Church, 110 Old Hojack Lane, Hilton;
•January 29, noon to 5 p.m., Spencerport Fire District, 175 Lyell Avenue, Spencerport;
•January 30, noon to 5 p.m., SUNY Brockport Seymour College Union, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport;
•February 4, 1 to 6 p.m., Brockport Fireman’s Exempt Club, 248 West Avenue, Brockport;
•February 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gates Town Hall, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester;
•February 7, 1 to 6 p.m., Ogden Community Center, 269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport;
•February 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lakeview Community Church, 30 Long Pond Road, Rochester.
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