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Rear Admiral Michael N. Parks, United States Coast Guard, Retired, CEO American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region spoke to Bill about Red Cross: Emergency blood shortage may delay medical procedures 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
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Red Cross: Emergency blood shortage may delay medical procedures
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
CLEVELAND, Jan. 8, 2024 — 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.
“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges may 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.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 8-31:
American Red Cross Blood Donation Centers Warzel Blood Donation Center 3747 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Parma Blood Donation Center
5585 Pearl Rd., Parma
Monday – Thursday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Summit Blood Donation Center
501 W. Market St., Akron
Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesdays: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Ashtabula County
Andover
1/22/2024: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Andover Christian Church, 200 Stillman Ave
Ashtabula
1/11/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Ashtabula County Medical Center, 2131 Lake Ave., ACMC Commons
1/18/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ashtabula Towne Square, 3315 N Ridge Rd E
1/25/2024: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Saint John School, 7911 Depot Rd
1/31/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities, 2505 S Ridge Rd E
Conneaut
1/24/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 876 Grove St.
Jefferson
1/19/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ashtabula Cnty Commissioners, 25 West Jefferson Street
Kingsville
1/8/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Gageville Methodist Church, 4063 St Rt. 193 S
Orwell
1/10/2024: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. Mary's Church Hall, 103 North Maple St.
Rock Creek
1/8/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Eagleville Bible Church, 1981 State Route 45
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Cuyahoga County
Bay Village
1/13/2024: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bay Village Police Dept, 28000 Wolf Rd.
1/23/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bay Lodge, 492 Bradley Road
Beachwood
1/13/2024: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Beachwood Public Library, 25501 Shaker Blvd.
1/17/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mandel Jewish Community Center, 26001 S. Woodland Blvd.
Berea
1/24/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Baldwin Wallace University, 120 East Grand St.
Brecksville
1/11/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library Brecksville Branch, 9089 Brecksville Road
1/25/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Brecksville Community Center, One Community Drive
1/28/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Christ the Redeemer Lutheran, 9201 Brecksville Rd
Brook Park
1/24/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Brookpark Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Rd
Brooklyn
1/29/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Brooklyn Senior Center, 7727 Memphis Avenue
Cleveland
1/10/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sherwin Williams Midland, 101 Prospect Ave.
1/17/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 10300 Carnegie Ave.
1/19/2024: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Fairview Hospital, 18101 Lorain Ave.
1/24/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., One Cleveland Center, 1375 E.9th St., Building Management
1/24/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Key Tower, 127 Public Square
1/26/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Children's, 9500 Euclid Ave.
1/27/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8, 2249 Payne Ave
1/30/2024: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., St Joseph Academy, 3430 Rocky River Drive
1/30/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., CWRU Thwing Hall Ballroom, 11111 Euclid Avenue
1/31/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., 200 Public Square, 200 Public Square, 3rd Floor
1/31/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 10300 Carnegie Ave.
Cleveland Heights
1/8/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Cleveland Hts Library, 2345 Lee Road
1/17/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Cleveland Hts Library, 2345 Lee Road
1/24/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland Heights Community, 1 Monticello Blvd.
1/31/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Cleveland Hts Library, 2345 Lee Road
Euclid
1/25/2024: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Euclid Hospital, 18901 Lakeshore Blvd
Fairview Park
1/10/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fairview Recreation Center, 21225 Lorain Road
1/31/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bain Cabin, 21077 North Park Dr
Independence
1/8/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Independence Community Center, 6363 Selig Drive
1/22/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Independence Community Center, 6363 Selig Drive
1/23/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Crown Centre II, 5001 Rockside Road
Lakewood
1/11/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lakewood Family Health Center, 14601 Detroit Ave
1/20/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Lakewood Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1382 Arthur Avenue
1/29/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lakewood Masonic Temple, 15300 Detroit AVE
Mayfield Heights
1/8/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mayfield Heights Community Center, 6306 Marsol Dr.
Mayfield Village
1/18/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Mayfield Branch Library, 500 SOM Center
1/18/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mayfield Village Civic Center, 6622 Wilson Mills Rd.
Middleburg Heights
1/15/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Middleburg Hts Comm Center, 16000 Bagley Rd
1/29/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Middleburg Hts Comm Center, 16000 Bagley Rd
North Olmsted
1/19/2024: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library North Olmsted Branch, 27403 Lorain Road
1/27/2024: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., North Olmsted Community Cabin, 28114 Lorain Rd.
North Royalton
1/24/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library North Royalton Branch, 5071 Wallings Rd
Olmsted Township
1/9/2024: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Olmsted Township, 7900 Fitch Rd
1/30/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Olmsted Township, 7900 Fitch Rd
Pepper Pike
1/14/2024: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Park Synagogue East, 27500 Shaker Boulevard
1/19/2024: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Orange Branch Cuyahoga County Public Library, 31975 Chagrin Blvd
Rocky River
1/12/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rocky River Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd.
Solon
1/23/2024: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Signature of Solon, 39000 Signature Drive
1/23/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of The Resurrection, 32001 Cannon Road
Strongsville
1/19/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library Strongsville Branch, 18700 Westwood Dr
1/27/2024: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Strongsville United Methodist Church, 13500 Royalton Rd
1/30/2024: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., St John Neumann, 16271 Pearl Rd
University Heights
1/14/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Church of the Gesu, 2470 Miramar Blvd
Warrensville Heights
1/10/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., South Pointe Hospital, 20000 Harvard Road
Westlake
1/17/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Westlake Recreation Center, 28955 Hilliard Rd.
1/22/2024: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Rd.
1/28/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 28455 Center Ridge Road
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Erie County
Castalia
1/15/2024: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Congregational United Church of Christ, 205 Main St.
Huron
1/11/2024: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St Peter Catholic Church, 430 Main St.
Sandusky
1/8/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 1617 Milan Rd
1/9/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holy Angels Catholic Church, 428 Tiffin Ave
1/12/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Firelands Health, 1912 Hayes Ave Sandusky
1/18/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center Sandusky, 417 Quarry Lakes Dr
1/25/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holy Angels Catholic Church, 428 Tiffin Ave
1/26/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Firelands Health, 1912 Hayes Ave Sandusky
Vermilion
1/22/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ritter Public Library, 5680 Liberty Ave.
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Geauga County
Chardon
1/11/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Chardon United Methodist Church, 515 North St.
1/12/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Munson Town Hall, 12210 Auburn Rd.
1/26/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Munson Town Hall, 12210 Auburn Rd.
1/29/2024: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., University Hospitals Geauga Med Ctr, 13207 Ravenna Rd.
Chagrin Falls
1/16/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Centerville Mill, 8558 Crackel Rd
1/25/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Centerville Mill, 8558 Crackel Rd
Chesterland
1/15/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Rd.
Middlefield
1/19/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Middlefield Library, 16167 East High
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Lake County
Concord Twp
1/19/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., TriPoint Medical Center, 7590 Auburn Road
Eastlake
1/28/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., St. Justin Martyr Church, 35781 Stevens Blvd
Kirtland
1/23/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Dr.
Madison
1/22/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lake Erie Church Madison, 2300 Hubbard Rd.
Mentor
1/12/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Advent Lutheran Church, 7985 Munson Rd.
1/16/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mentor United Methodist Church, 8600 Mentor Ave.
1/26/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Great Lakes Mall, 7850 Mentor Ave.
Mentor on the Lake
1/31/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mentor on the Lake Library, 5642 Andrews Rd.
Painesville
1/15/2024: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., First Church Congregational, 22 Liberty St.
1/31/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Concord Community Center, 7671 Auburn Rd.
Perry
1/11/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Cyprian Church, 4223 Middle Ridge Road
1/25/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Perry Middle School, 2 Learning Lane
Wickliffe
1/20/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Wickliffe Family Resource Center, 2255 Rockfeller Rd., Door 18
1/30/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Wickliffe Public Library, 1713 Lincoln Rd.
Willoughby
1/9/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Willoughby Senior Center, 36939 Ridge Rd
1/21/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 37932 Euclid Ave.
1/31/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Willoughby City Hall, 1 Public Square
Willoughby Hills
1/25/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Willoughby Hills Community Center, 35400 Chardon Rd.
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Lorain County
Avon
1/8/2024: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., French Creek Family YMCA, 2010 Recreation Lane
1/18/2024: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Avon Isle Park, 37080 Detroit Road
1/24/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Mary of the Woods, 35755 Detroit Rd
Avon Lake
1/16/2024: 2:45 p.m. - 8 p.m., Troy Intermediate School, 237 Belmar Blvd
1/21/2024: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 410 Lear Rd.
Wellington
1/31/2024: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Penfield Township Community Center, 41012 State Route 18
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