The community’s blood supply is critically low on all blood types. During lulls between severe winter weather days, local blood collection agencies are urging all eligible blood and platelet donors to make an appointment to donate.
All blood types are needed but there’s a particular need for O-negative, A-negative and B-negative. Platelets have a shelf life of only five days, so the need for donors is even more critical when there is inclement weather.
Lifeblood had to cancel 17 blood drives the week of Feb. 15-21 because of winter weather conditions. Either the donation location was closed or the blood drive crew could not travel there safely. Lifeblood also had to close its four donor center operations down for four days. Because of these cancellations, Lifeblood experienced a loss of approximately 560 units of blood and platelets.
Since Feb. 16, the Red Cross has had to cancel 36 blood drive in the Greater Arkansas-Ozarks Blood Services Region because of inclement weather, resulting in 1,053 uncollected pints of blood. Seasonal illness like the flu are also preventing some donors from being able to give. The Red Cross is urging healthy, eligible donors to make an appointment to come give.
“The need for blood does not get a snow day,” said Scott Caswell, regional CEO for the Red Cross.
Lifeblood
Lifeblood is asking all eligible donors to help stabilize the community blood supply by donating as soon as possible. Donors may visit any of Lifeblood’s five donor centers to give blood or platelets:
- Bartlett Center, 7505 Highway 64, Suite 109, Bartlett
- DeSoto County Center, 1055 East Goodman Rd, Suite J, Southaven, Miss.
- Germantown Center, 2095 Exeter, #75, Germantown
- East Memphis Center, 4702 Spottswood, Memphis
- Paul Barret, Jr., 1045 Madison Ave, Memphis
Those interested in donating may visit Lifeblood.org for more information or call (901) 529-6320 to make an appointment.
Upcoming Lifeblood blood drives include:
- March 5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Baptist Memorial Shared Services, 350 N. Humphreys Boulevard, Memphis
- March 6, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tipton Center Mobiles, 1828 Old Hwy. 51 South, Brighton
- March 7, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tipton Center Mobiles, 1828 Old Hwy. 51 South, Brighton
- March 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Hope Presbyterian Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova
- March 8, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 8151 Poplar Ave., Germantown
- March 8, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 1444 Austin St., Memphis
Red Cross
The Red Cross
To schedule an appointment to donate to the Red Cross, people can:
- Download the Blood Donor App on their smartphones. The app is available in Google Play and at the iTunes App Store.
- Visit redcrossblood.org. Donors can find a local blood drive by entering their zip codes in the “Find a Blood Drive” window at redcrossblood.org.
- Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
People also can donate at any of the following upcoming blood drives:
- March 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Olive Branch Library, 6619 Cockrum Road, Olive Branch, Miss.
- March 23, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Buffalo Wild Wings – Southaven, 7188 Airways Boulevard, Southaven, Miss.
- March 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., OR Nurses Inc., 9037 Poplar Ave., Germantown
- March 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., American Red Cross Mid South Chapter, 1400 Central Ave., Memphis
