Donors urged to give now as nation faces lowest number of blood donors in decades
Donors have the chance to help save lives, win trip to Super Bowl LVIII
By the American Red Cross
KANSAS — The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.
Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.
“One of the most distressing situations for a doctor is to have a hospital full of patients and an empty blood bank without any blood on the shelves. Doctors often can’t operate without blood available to make surgeries, medical procedures and treatments possible,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”
Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.
Local upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 15-31:
Barton County
Great Bend
1/22/2024: 11:30 AM-6 PM, St Rose Auditorium, 1412 Baker St
1/26/2024: 10 AM-4 PM, American Legion, 1011 Kansas Avenue
Ellsworth County
Ellsworth
1/16/2024: 8 AM-1:30 PM Cashco, 607 W. 15th Street
1/18/2024: 9 AM-3 PM, Ellsworth County Medical Center Administration Building, 1706 Aylward
Wilson
1/19/2024: 12:30-5:30 PM, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church
Harvey County
Burrton
1/19/2024: 9:30 AM-3:45 PM, Burrton Community, 203 N. Burrton Ave
Hesston
1/22/2024: 11:30 AM-6 PM, Hesston Mennonite Church, 309 S. Main
Newton
1/16/2024: 8 AM-2 PM, Newton High School, 900 W. 12th St.
North Newton
1/17/2024: 9 AM-3 PM, Bethel College Memorial Hall, 300 E. 27th St.
Hodgeman County
Jetmore 1/19/2024: 12-4:30 PM, King Center, 310 Main Street
Kingman County
Kingman
1/15/2024: 9 AM-3 PM, Kingman Community Hospital, 750 W. Ave. D
1/23/2024: Noon-6 PM, Kingman Christian Church, 501 N Main
Marion County
Lost Springs 1/29/2024: 9 AM-2 PM, Centre High School, 2374 310th St.
Peabody 1/25/2024: 8:45 am-1:45 pm, Peabody High School, 810 N. Sycamore
McPherson County
Canton
1/25/2024: Noon-5 PM , Community Center, 100 W. McPherson
Lindsborg
1/22/2024: Noon-6 PM, Trinity United Methodist Church, 224 S. Main
1/31/2024: 9 AM-3 PM, Bethany College
Marquette
1/30/2024: Noon-6 PM, Elim Lutheran Church, 405 N. Lincoln
McPherson
1/15/2024: Noon-6 PM, St Joseph Catholic Church, 520 E. Northview
1/16/2024: 8 AM-1 PM, St Joseph Catholic Church, 520 E. Northview
1/18/2024: 8:30 AM-2:45 PM, City of McPherson, 400 E. Kansas Ave
1/25/2024: 8 AM-1:30 PM, Central Christian College, 1200 S. Maple McPherson
1/25/2024: 8:30 AM-2 PM, Michaud Activities Center, 501 E. Northview
Moundridge
1/15/2024: 9 AM-3 PM, MKC Learning Center, 221 W. Hirschler St.
Ottawa County
Bennington
1/24/2024: 1:30-7:30 PM Bennington Community Fire/EMS, 584 N. 180th Road
Pratt County
Pratt
1/26/2024: 111:30 AM-5:30 PM Pratt Community Building, 619 N. Main
Reno County
Buhler
1/26/2024: Noon-6 PM, Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church, 415 North West
Haven
1/26/2024:11 AM-5 PM, St Paul Lutheran Church, 8513 E Arlington Rd
Hutchinson
1/19/2024: 9 AM-2 PM, Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center, 1300 North Plum
Hutchinson Community Blood Drive 1-29/31 at First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Sherman
1/29/2024: Noon-6:30 PM
1/30/2024: 11 AM 5:30 PM
1/31/2024: 7 AM-1 PM
1/27/2024: 9 AM-2 PM New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 700 E 25th Ave
Rice County
Sterling
1/22/2024: Noon-6 PM, CrossPoint Church, 109 West Garfield Ave
Little River
1/23/2024: 9 AM-3 PM Little River Community, 410 Clinton
Saline County
Assaria 1/30/2024: Noon-6 PM, Assaria Lutheran Church
Salina
1/15/2024: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., St John’s Lutheran Church, 302 South Seventh
1/16/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Long McArthur, 3450 S. Ninth
1/23/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Tonys Pizza Service, 3123 Centennial Road
1/24/2024: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kansas State University, 2310 Centennial
1/26/2024: 8 AM-2 PM Heartland Early Education, 700 Jupiter and Noon-6 PM, YMCA, 570 YMCA Dr
Stafford County
Macksville
1/30/2024: 8:30 AM-2:30 PM, Macksville High School
Click to see a Full List of mobile drives in Kansas.
Visit www.RedCrossBlood.org to see appointments at the Salina or Wichita Donor Center.
