DALLAS — The American Red Cross has an urgent need for donors and is counting on people to act now and book a time to give lifesaving blood or platelets. Donors of all blood types are essential in keeping the blood supply strong enough to withstand summer challenges.

Scheduled donations, which account for 90% of all blood donations, have dropped sharply in recent weeks. As a result, the blood supply has fallen by several thousand units in just a week, raising concerns that the decline could worsen as we enter trauma season. This period between Memorial Day and Labor Day brings an increase in severe injuries from car accidents, ATV crashes, sports-related injuries and other summer activities. In fact, AAA reports that fatal crashes involving teen drivers rise by 30% during this time, often called the “100 deadliest days.” A single person injured in a serious car accident can require up to 100 units of blood.

“For a person suffering from severe bleeding – and the emergency medical responders caring for them – stopping the bleeding and stabilizing them is a race against an unforgiving clock,” says Dr. Emily Coberly, medical director for the Red Cross. “Every minute matters. For each minute that passes without blood transfusion, the risk of death increases by 11% for patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock. That’s why having a readily available blood supply is critical.”

Securing appointments in the coming weeks is critical to maintaining a healthy blood supply for all patients depending on transfusions. Make an appointment to give now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. 

Those who come to give June 1-28, 2026, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7500 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/June for details.

Irving Blood and Platelet Donation Center

2511 West Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

Monday and Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday through Sunday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Plano Blood and Platelet Donation Center

741 N US-Central Expressway, Suite 1000

Monday and Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday through Sunday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities June 4 – June 28:

Addison

6/9/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Scorpion, 5040 Addison Cir.

Aledo

6/11/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church at the Crossing, 128 Elm St.

Allen

6/8/2026: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center, 1680 W. Exchange Pkwy.

6/23/2026: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Courtyard Dallas-Allen, 210 E. Stacy Rd.

6/25/2026: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., The Heritage at Twin Creeks, 920 Stockton Dr.

Arlington 

6/11/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Family Healthcare Associates, 1300 S. Fielder Rd.

6/19/2026: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Medical City Arlington, 3201 Matlock Rd.

Azle

6/5/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Azle Lions Club, 412 Commerce St.

Carrollton

6/9/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sam Pack's Five Star Ford-Carrollton, 1635 S. I-35E

6/24/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Metrocrest Services, 1145 N. Josey Ln.

Cedar Hill

6/22/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Morada Cedar Hill, 235 W. Pleasant Run Rd.

Cleburne

6/20/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 303 S. Nolan River Rd.

6/23/2026: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Elks Lodge 811, 124 FM 1434

Colleyville

6/13/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church of Colleyville, 3801 Glade Rd.

Dallas

6/5/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Crescent Club, 200 Crescent Ct.

6/5/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Graduate by Hilton Dallas, 6101 Hillcrest Ave.

6/6/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Dallas College West Campus, 3330 N. Hampton Rd.

6/9/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 2055 Kendall Dr.

6/10/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Austin Industries, 3535 Travis St.

6/11/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Lakewood United Methodist Church, 2443 Abrams Rd.

6/13/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, 1835 Young St.

6/15/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rosewood Court, 2101 Cedar Springs Rd.

6/15/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., White Rock YMCA, 7112 Gaston Ave.

6/16/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rosewood Court, 2101 Cedar Springs Rd.

6/16/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Amazon HTX3, 3199 Telephone Rd.

6/18/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm St.

6/18/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Amazon HTX3, 3199 Telephone Rd.

6/20/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Galleria Dallas Rink Level, 13350 Dallas Pkwy.

6/24/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Atlantic Housing Foundation, 4770 Iberia Ave.

6/25/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dallas County Records Building, 500 Elm St.

6/26/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 2055 Kendall Dr.

Denton

6/19/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Medical City Denton, 3537 S. I-35 E

De Soto

6/5/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saint Anne Episcopal Church, 1700 N. Westmoreland Rd.

Flower Mound

6/25/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln.

Fort Worth

6/5/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 6000 Western Pl., Ste. 100

6/9/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hulen Mall, 4800 S. Hulen St.

6/11/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Overture River District, 4925 Scott Rd.

6/12/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 6000 Western Pl., Ste. 100

6/16/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Medical Office Building at Alliance, 3025 N. Tarrant Pkwy.

6/19/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 6000 Western Pl., Ste. 100

6/19/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., William M. McDonald YMCA, 2701 Moresby St.

Frisco

6/23/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Embassy Suites by Hilton Frisco, 7600 John Q Hammons Dr.

6/26/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Avalon Frisco North, 12050 Research Rd.

Granbury

6/4/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 4530 Acton Hwy.

Grand Prairie

6/4/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Living Spaces, 1514 Arkansas Ln.

6/27/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, 900 Conover Dr.

Grapevine

6/16/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Church at the Cross, 3000 William D Tate Ave.

Highland Village

6/19/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Shops at Highland Village, 4081 Waller Creek

Keller

6/9/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites Keller Town Center, 200 Town Center Ln.

Lewisville

6/12/2026: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Medical City Lewisville, 475 Elm St.

6/23/2026: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sam Pack Ford Lewisville, 1144 N. Stemmons Fwy.

McKinney

6/16/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Springhill Suites McKinney, 2660 S. US 75

6/19/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, 5252 W. University Dr.

6/23/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Springhill Suites McKinney, 2660 S. US 75

Mesquite

6/25/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., St Stephen United Methodist Church, 2520 Oates Dr.

North Richland Hills

6/17/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Morada Meadow Lakes, 5000 Meadow Lakes Dr.

Pantego

6/4/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Morada Pantego Independent Living, 2650 W. Park Row Dr.

Plano

6/24/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Plano Family YMCA, 3300 McDermott Rd.

Richardson

6/17/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., First Baptist Richardson, 1001 N. US 75

6/20/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Canyon Creek Project, 2800 Custer Pkwy.

Rockwall

6/26/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6819 S. FM 549

Rowlett

6/27/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8201 Garner Rd.

Stephenville

6/16/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Tarleton State University Thompson Student Center, 1452 W. Jones St.

Weatherford

6/8/2026: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Weatherford Library, 1014 Charles St.

Summer challenges

A sharp drop in scheduled donations is especially troubling now, during a season when blood collection can be difficult due to end of the school-year activities, travel and school breaks, as well as severe weather and heat that can disrupt blood drives entirely. Large-scale sporting events in the coming months can also add pressure to the blood supply at a time when every donation is crucial. Now is the time to make and keep blood or platelet donation appointments to ensure blood products are readily available for people living with chronic illness, new mothers, surgery patients and those facing traumatic injuries.

“Every unit of lifesaving blood on an ambulance, emergency medical helicopter or in a hospital didn’t get there by accident. It’s there because someone rolled up their sleeve to give blood," adds Coberly.

How to donate blood

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 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 comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.