American Red Cross facing emergency blood shortage, lowest supply levels in more than a decade
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Red Cross national blood inventory is the lowest it’s been at this time of year in more than a decade. Donors are urged to continue to keep appointments now and in the weeks ahead to help overcome the shortage heading into the holidays.
An added bonus, donors who give Nov. 1-12, will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii.
According to a news release, since declaring an emergency need for donors last month, thousands of people have come to Red Cross blood drives across the country to roll up a sleeve and help patients who are counting on lifesaving transfusions.
"It's just really striking for how unusual it is. Usually, this is the time of year when we kind of replenish the blood supply. We can restock the shelves for our hospital partners," Communications Director Justin Kern said.
At least 10,000 more donations are needed each week in the coming weeks to meet patient needs ahead of the upcoming holiday season, which always presents seasonal challenges to blood collection.
"That need is still as strong as it usually is, but the appointments and the turnout hasn't been as strong on the national level," Kern said.
The Red Cross national blood inventory is the lowest it’s been at this time of year in at least six years. Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
In honor of the new series, I Know What You Did Last Summer, those who give between Nov. 1-12 will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video. The trip will transport you to where the series was filmed and includes round-trip airfare for two, hotel accommodations for nine nights, meals, a $1,000 gift card for expenses and on-trip transportation with tour stops from Honolulu to Maui. Plus, those who donate Nov. 1-23 will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card by email, thanks to Amazon.
Blood drive safety
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – 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.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 1-23
WISCONSIN
Dodge
Ashippun
11/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ashippun Town Hall, W1266 Hwy O
11/8/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ashippun Town Hall, W1266 Hwy O
Beaver Dam
11/3/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Beaver Dam High School, 500 Gould St
Juneau
11/19/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Johns Lutheran Church & School, 402 S Main St
Mayville
10/27/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 134 South Main Street
11/11/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mayville Hometown Pharmacy, 1448 Horicon Street
Randolph
10/27/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Randolph High School, 110 Meadowood Dr
Waupun
11/11/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Central Wisconsin Christian School, 301 Fox Lake Rd
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Fond du Lac
Brandon
11/16/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bethel Reformed Church, 305 W Main St
Campbellsport
11/9/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 350 S Helena St
Fond du Lac
11/17/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St Mary's Springs High School, 255 Cty Rd K
11/17/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Fond du Lac High School, 801 Campus Dr
11/22/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Thrive Church, 79 E 2nd St
11/23/2021: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
11/23/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
North Fond du Lac
11/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., North Fond du lac Community Center, 280 Garfield St.
Ripon
11/4/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ripon High School, 850 Tiger Dr
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Jefferson
Jefferson
11/3/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Jefferson High School, 700 W Milwaukee St
Johnson Creek
11/1/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Johnson Creek High School, 455 Aztalan St.
Lake Mills
11/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Lake Activity Center, 229 Fremont St.
Sullivan
10/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sullivan Elementary School, 618 Bakertown Road
Waterloo
11/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Waterloo High School, 865 N Monroe St
Watertown
11/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Maranatha Baptist University, 745 W Main St
11/17/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Watertown Senior & Community Center, 514 S. First Street
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Kenosha
Kenosha
10/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Herzing University, 5800 7th Ave
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Milwaukee
Brown Deer
11/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, 8635 N 60th St.
Greendale
10/28/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Martin Luther High School, 5201 South 76th Street
11/18/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Hose Tower, 5699 Parking St
Milwaukee
10/27/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., MobCraft Beer Brewery and Taproom, 505 S 5th St
11/11/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., MobCraft Beer Brewery and Taproom, 505 S 5th St
11/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lutheran Chapel of the Cross, 3353 S. Whitnall
11/24/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Broken Bat Brewing Co, 135 E Pittsburgh Ave
11/24/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, 1450 North Lincoln Memorial Drive
Oak Creek
11/4/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Salvation Army Oak Creek Centennial Church, 8853 S. Howell Ave.
11/9/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Oak Creek East Middle School, 9330 S Shepard Ave
River Hills
11/10/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., St Christophers Episcopal Church, 7845 N River Rd
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Ozaukee
Fredonia
10/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 824 Fredonia Ave
Port Washington
10/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Matthew Lutheran Church, 1525 N Grant St
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Sheboygan
Elkhart Lake
11/19/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Elkhart Lake High School, 201 Lincoln St
Plymouth
10/28/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Ladewig Zinkgraf American Legion Post 243, 40 S Stafford St
11/11/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, N5990 Country Aire Rd
Sheboygan
10/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
11/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
11/12/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
11/19/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
11/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
Sheboygan Falls
11/15/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Berkshire Community Gym, 101 School St.
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Walworth
East Troy
11/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St -Hwy 20
Lake Geneva
11/22/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 1 p.m., Badger High School, 220 E South St
Sharon
11/2/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 228 Martin St
Walworth
11/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Big Foot High School, 401 Devils Ln
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Washington
Jackson
11/9/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Still Waters Community United Methodist Church, 3617 Scenic Rd
11/24/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Jackson Community Center, N165 W20330 Hickory Ln
Kewaskum
10/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Peace United Church of Christ, 343 1st St.
West Bend
11/4/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Univ of WI Washington County, 400 University Dr
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Waukesha
Brookfield
11/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, 13445 W Hampton Rd
Hartland
11/10/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church and School, 1023 E Capitol Drive
Menomonee Falls
11/24/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Menomonee Falls Public Library, W156 N8436 Pilgrim Rd
Muskego
10/29/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Muskego Circle Community Center, S63 W13694 Janesville Rd
11/17/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Muskego High School, W185S8750 Racine Ave
Nashotah
11/22/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., MSI General, W215 E. Wisconsin Ave
New Berlin
11/4/2021: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., New Berlin West Middle & High School, 18695 W Cleveland Ave
11/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., New Berlin Sportsplex, 2900 S 163rd St
11/23/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln
11/26/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., OAW Indoor Sports Complex, 5330 S Racine Ave
Oconomowoc
11/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 145 E. Lisbon Rd
Pewaukee
10/28/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
11/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, W240 N3103 Pewaukee Rd
11/4/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
11/11/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
11/18/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
11/26/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., American Red Cross Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Road
Sussex
10/29/2021: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Hamilton High School, W220 N6151 Town Line Rd
11/1/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Grove at Village Park, W244N6260 Weaver Dr
Waukesha
11/12/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Waukesha YMCA, 320 E. Broadway