Red Cross calls for healthy blood donors following severe weather | February 22, 2021
Red Cross calls for healthy blood donors following severe weather
February 22, 2021 — Record-breaking cold and winter storms across much of the U.S. have had a significant impact on blood donations. The American Red Cross is urging healthy individuals, especially those with type O blood, to give now to ensure blood products are available for patient emergencies when help can’t wait.
Extreme winter weather has forced the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives in about 30 states and caused more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. In Ohio, 600 units have gone uncollected as at least 20 blood drives canceled across the state.
Every day thousands of patients rely on lifesaving blood donations. The need for blood is constant, even during snowstorms and the COVID-19 pandemic. To help ensure lifesaving patient care isn’t impacted, individuals are urged to make appointments to donate in the coming days and weeks by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Important COVID-19 information for donors
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – 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 and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 22-March 15
Perry
New Lexington
2/27/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., In Memory of Jackie Theisen-Ellis, 120 N. High St
3/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St
New Straitsville
3/9/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., New Straitsville United Methodist Church, 101 Clark St.
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Athens
Albany
3/1/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Alexander High School, 6091 Ayers Road
Athens
2/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Athens County Chapter, 100 May Ave.
2/24/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Baker Center, 1 Park Place
2/25/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Athens County Chapter, 100 May Ave.
3/3/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sojourners Athens, 5 N Shafer Street
3/4/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Richland United Methodist Church, 60 Pomeroy Rd
3/10/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Athens County Chapter, 100 May Ave.
Nelsonville
3/15/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Stuart's Opera House, 52 Public Square
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Coshocton
Coshocton
3/10/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High Street
Fresno
3/4/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Ridge View, 33277 SR 643
West Lafayette
3/4/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Kirk Street Event Center, 113 S. Kirk Street
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Fairfield
Carroll
3/13/2021: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Hope Community Church of the Nazarene, 3570 Coonpath Rd.
Lancaster
2/25/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Mark Church, 324 Gay St.
3/1/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 343 E. Walnut St.
3/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 343 E. Walnut St.
Lithopolis
3/6/2021: 7:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Lithopolis United Methodist Church, 80 N. Market Street
Millersport
2/26/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Millersport Lions Club, 2900 Chautaqua
Pickerington
2/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW
2/25/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus, 1010 Refugee Road
3/4/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Road NW
3/9/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Road NW
3/11/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus, 1010 Refugee Road
3/14/2021: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Road
3/15/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW
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Fayette
Washington Court House
2/26/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fayette County Victim Witness Division, 133 S. Main St.
3/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Crossroads Christian Church, 175 Halliday Way
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Guernsey
Byesville
3/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Stop Nine, 60330 Southgate Road
Cambridge
2/23/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street
2/23/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street
3/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Guernsey County Crossroads Branch Library, 63500 Byesville Road
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Harrison
Cadiz
2/24/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cadiz Volunteer Fire Department, 254 East Market Street
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Highland
Greenfield
3/11/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Greenfield McClain High School, 200 N. 5th Street
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Hocking
Logan
2/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 258 E. Hunter St
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Licking
Etna
2/25/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Daybreak Church, 1226 Pike Street
Granville
2/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Broadway
3/9/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Broadway
3/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., RevLocal, 4009 Columbus Road
Heath
2/24/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Indian Mound Mall, 771 S. 30th St
Hebron
3/4/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 285, 108 Waters Street
Johnstown
2/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Ascension Worship Center, 555 South Main St
3/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Ascension Worship Center, 555 South Main St
Newark
2/21/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Newark, 50 North 2nd Street
2/23/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
2/26/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Trek Brewing Company, 1486 Granville Rd
2/26/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
2/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., TrueCore, 215 Deo Drive
3/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
3/5/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
3/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Faith and Family Center, 45 Granville Street
3/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
3/12/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South
Pataskala
2/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Licking County Family YMCA, 355 West Broad Street
2/24/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Tri Village Christian Church, 7509 E. Broad St SW
3/6/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hosanna Lutheran Church, 7714 Hazelton-Etna Road
3/10/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Licking County Family YMCA, 355 West Broad Street
3/15/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Tri Village Christian Church, 7509 E. Broad St SW
Utica
2/25/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Utica Church of Christ, 115 North Central Avenue
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Madison
Plain City
3/11/2021: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Haven Fellowship Church, 7730 Converse-Huff Road
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Morgan
McConnelsville
3/2/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Morgan High School, 800 Raider Drive
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Muskingum
Adamsville
3/1/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Adamsville Community Center, 8200 Madison Road
Dresden
2/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Northgate Church of Dresden, 10516 Frazeysburg Road
Zanesville
2/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road
2/24/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Secrest Auditorium, 334 Shinnick Street
3/2/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road
3/4/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road
3/5/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Colony Square Mall, 3575 Maple Avenue
3/6/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Unity Church of the Nazarene, 3095 Maysville Pike
3/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road
3/13/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., South Zanesville UMC, 53 E Main St
3/13/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., North Terrace Church of Christ, 1420 Brandywine Blvd
3/15/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road
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Noble
Caldwell
3/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Noble County Fairgrounds, 44187 Fairgrounds Rd
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Perry
New Lexington
2/27/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., In Memory of Jackie Theisen-Ellis, 120 N. High St
3/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St
New Straitsville
3/9/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., New Straitsville United Methodist Church, 101 Clark St.
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Pickaway
Circleville
3/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickaway County District Public Library, 1160 North Court Street
3/3/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 135 East Mound Street
Williamsport
3/3/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Westfall High School, 19463 Pherson Pike
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Ross
Chillicothe
2/26/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St
3/5/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St
3/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., iHeartMEDIA Blood Bash at the South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St
3/12/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St
Kingston
3/4/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Zane Trace High School, 946 St. Rt. 180
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Vinton
Mc Arthur
3/10/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., McArthur United Methodist Church, 200 S. Market St.
About blood donation
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.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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