Following several rounds of severe winter weather in many parts of the country, the American Red Cross urges eligible blood and platelet donors to help restock its shelves to overcome a shortage.
Since Dec. 1, about 300 blood drives across 27 states have been forced to cancel due to inclement winter weather, resulting in more than 10,500 blood and platelet donations going uncollected. Since the beginning of the year, snow and icy roads forced blood drives to cancel, causing donations to go uncollected. Despite the weather, hospital patients still rely on transfusions.
Blood donor Jim Taylor knows how it feels to have a loved one waiting for a transfusion. His son Aaron was born with a rare liver condition. In the short two months of his life, he received 115 blood products. Taylor said each transfusion gave his family more time with Aaron, so he encourages others to give.
“When the Red Cross says there is a shortage, they are not exaggerating,” said Taylor. “I now know from experience that what they are saying is somewhere there is a father waiting on the donation that will save his son’s life. When the Red Cross asks for help, what that means is a new dad is praying for a miracle.”
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Bureau County
Spring Valley
1/24/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., St Margaret's Hospital, 600 E. First
CookCounty
Chicago
1/16/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave.
1/17/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave.
1/23/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rush University Medical Center, 1650 West Harrison Street
1/24/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., 111 South Wacker, 111 South Wacker Drive
1/25/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Uptown Regency, 5050 N. Sheridan Rd
1/27/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., InterContinental Hotel Chicago Magnificent Mile, 505 N. Michigan
1/28/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Third Baptist Church of Chicago, 1551 W. 95th St.
1/30/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Loyola University - Corboy Law Center, 25 East Pearson
1/31/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave
2/1/2017: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., Apostolic Faith Church, 3823 S. Indiana Avenue
2/13/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Northwestern University School of Law, 375 E. Chicago Ave
2/3/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hines, 300 North LaSalle
2/8/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kendall College, 900 North Branch
Evanston
1/19/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University, 2110 Sheridan Road
1/20/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Northwestern University - Phi Kappa Psi, 2247 Sheridan Forest Park
2/5/2017: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., St John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave.
Glenview
2/18/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Chicago Harley-Davidson, 2929 Patriot Blvd
Maywood
2/16/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Loyola University Center for Fitness, 2160 S. First Ave, Loyola Center for Fitness
2/2/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Loyola University Center for Fitness, 2160 S. First Ave, Loyola Center for Fitness
River Forest
1/22/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., River Forest West Suburban Temple Har Zion, 1040 North Harlem
Tinley Park
2/3/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Chicago Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 17, 18520 Spring Creek
DeKalb County
DeKalb
1/19/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Campus Life Building, Campus Life Building, Corner of Lucinda and Normal
DuPage County
Hinsdale
2/4/2017: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Evangelical Covenant Church, 4th and Garfield
Lisle
1/16/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Benedictine University- Kindlon hall, 5700 College Road
Kane County
Aurora
1/26/2017: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Dunham Hall, 347 S. Gladstone Avenue
Kankakee County
Bourbonnais
1/19/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
1/26/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
2/10/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
2/15/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
2/3/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
2/7/2017: 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., American Lutheran Church, 1560 Career Center Rd.
2/9/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., GatheringPoint Church, 897 W. Bourbonnais Pkwy.
Herscher
2/17/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 225 E. Third
Kankakee
2/8/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Riverside Medical Center, 350 N. Wall
La Salle County
Earlville
1/19/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lutheran Church, 407 East Street
Marseilles
2/2/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, 255 E. Bluff
Mendota
1/27/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., OSF Saint Paul Medical Center, 1401 12th Street
Oglesby
1/19/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., RR1
Ottawa
2/16/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, 1100 E. Norris Drive
2/16/2017: 7:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, 1100 E. Norris Drive
2/2/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1401 State Street
2/7/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Carpenter's Local 195, 1001 Boyce Memorial Drive
Peru
1/17/2017: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Illinois Valley Chapter Donation Center, 1530 4th Street
2/6/2017: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Illinois Valley Community Hospital Office Building, 1305 6th Street
2/7/2017: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Illinois Valley Chapter Donation Center, 1530 4th Street
Serena
2/3/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Serena High School, 100 Quincy
Streator
1/19/2017: 8:45 a.m. - 1 p.m., First Baptist Church, 204 S. Monroe
2/16/2017: 8:45 a.m. - 1 p.m., First Baptist Church, 204 S. Monroe
2/3/2017: 1:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 204 S. Monroe
Tonica
1/16/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 423 Wauponis Street
Lake County
Gurnee
1/29/2017: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Members Church of God International, 3575 E. Grand Ave North Chicago
2/6/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Rosalind Franklin University Health & Sciences, 3333 Greenbay Road Round Lake
1/24/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Rd
Lee County
Amboy
1/30/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Amboy Community Building, 280 W. Wasson Road
Ashton
1/23/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ashton-Franklin Center High School, 611 Western, PO Box 329
Dixon
1/21/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., National Guard Building, 412 W. Everett
1/25/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Elk's Lodge, 1279 Franklin Grove Rd
1/30/2017: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dixon VFW #540, 1560 Franklin Grove Road
Paw Paw
1/23/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Paw Paw High School, 511 Chapman
Ogle County
Polo
2/10/2017: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Polo High School, 100 S. Union Ave.
Putnam County
McNabb
1/23/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., McNabb Fire Dept., 391 N. Rt. 89
Whiteside County
Fulton
1/24/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th Street
2/14/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th Street Morrison
1/19/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 200 West Lincolnway
Prophetstown
2/13/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3, 79 Grove St.
Rock Falls
1/18/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.
2/1/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.
2/15/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.
Sterling
2/15/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sterling High School, 1608 4th Ave.
2/2/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road
2/2/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road
Will County
Joliet
2/6/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Joliet Junior College, 1215 Houbolt
2/7/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Joliet Junior College, 1215 Houbolt
Naperville
2/7/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Fry Family YMCA of Metro Chicago, 2120 W. 95th Street
How to help Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 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 donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent 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.