Emergency call issued for blood donations

COLUMBUS — The American Red Cross has a severe winter blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for blood and platelet donors to make a donation appointment now and help save patient lives.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Hardin County are as follows:

Monday, Jan. 9 – Kenton Moose Lodge, 801 W. Lima St., noon-6 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 16 – Visiting Nurses & Hospice, 1200 S. Main St., Ada, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 19 – Ohio Northern University McIntosh Center, 525 S Main, Ada, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,

Hectic holiday schedules for many regular blood donors contributed to about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than what was needed. Snowstorms and severe weather have also impacted donations. Nearly 100 blood drives were forced to cancel in December, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected.

Rodney Wilson, communications manager for Red Cross Central Ohio Blood Services Region, said, “We encourage donors to invite a family member or friend to donate with them to help meet patient needs. Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”

To schedule an appointment to donate, people can use the free Blood Donor App (http://www.redcrossblood.org/bloodapp), visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass (http://www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass) online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help speed up the donation process.