The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood and platelet shortage and asks the public to book a time to give as soon as possible to overcome a late summer shortfall. To ensure the blood supply recovers, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet hospital and patient needs.
To help relay the seriousness of our current situation, the following is available to support your coverage:
Unique challenges to blood supply
In late summer, the Red Cross national blood supply dropped by about 25% on the heels of one of the busiest travel seasons and the beginning of back-to-school activities. As people settle back into fallschool and work routines, a unique challenge to the blood supply remains – many employees continue to work from home or in a hybrid capacity, reducing the number of opportunities to give blood at business- sponsored blood drives. In fact, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800,000 blood donations were made at blood drives hosted by businesses. Last year, the Red Cross saw only about 500,000 blood donations at these locations – a nearly 40% drop from pre-pandemic levels.
This, coupled with an active disaster season, is creating a perfect “storm” and challenging the organization’s ability to collect a sufficient amount of blood products to meet the needs of hospitals across the country.
Knox County
Centerburg
10/10/2023: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Centerburg Church of Christ, 3830 Columbus Road
Danville
10/17/2023: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., St. Luke's Catholic Church, 7 W Rambo St
Gambier
10/17/2023: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Community Christian Fellowship, 23436 New Castle Road
Howard
10/5/2023: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Apple Valley, 850 CrestroseDrive
Martinsburg
10/4/2023: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Martinsburg Community Center, 122 W Liberty St
Mount Vernon
9/26/2023: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Gay Street United Methodist Church, 18 N. Gay Street
9/29/2023: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Grand Hotel, 12 Public Square
9/30/2023: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Grand Hotel, 12 Public Square
10/4/2023: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 800 Martinsburg Road
10/19/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Moose Lodge, 417 W. High Street
10/19/2023: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Knox Community Hospital, 1330 Coshocton Avenue
10/20/2023: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Grand Hotel, 12 Public Square
The Red Cross provides community blood drives and donation centers across the Central & Southern Ohio Region. Those who may have previously given at a local business blood drive are encouraged to book a time to give at one of these locations by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).