Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Donors needed to give blood to help address significant shortage
HOOD RIVER, Ore. (July 11, 2016) — The Hood River community can help save lives at the annual Hood River Community Blood Drive on July 20 from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at the Hood River Inn, 1108 E. Marina Way. Those who come to donate can enjoy an on-site cookout and get a $10 Visa gift card, courtesy of Suburban Propane, while supplies last.
The American Red Cross recently issued an emergency call for blood donors. Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in almost 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply. In addition, the Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4.
“Generous volunteers are the only source to help patients in need,” said Neil Tosuntikool, donor recruitment director of the Red Cross Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region. “Hospital patients continue to need lifesaving blood this summer, and they’re relying on the generosity of volunteer donors to give them hope in the days and weeks ahead.”
The Red Cross relies on volunteer donors for the approximately 14,000 blood donations needed every day to support patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Blood donors of all types are needed to help accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
Blood donation appointments can be scheduled by using the sponsor code HoodRiver through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Blood donors also can save time by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About donating blood or platelets
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required when checking in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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