MILWAUKEE (July 27, 2022) — Just as most cars need to be refueled constantly, so does the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross has faced a concerning drop in blood and platelet donations this summer. Donors are needed to make an appointment to give in August to help prevent a blood shortage.

The decline in donations has caused the Red Cross blood supply to shrink nearly 20% in recent weeks. The availability of blood products will continue to decline if donations do not increase. People should not wait until they hear there is a blood shortage to give. Type O negative blood donors and platelet donors are especially needed now.

“This is a concerning trend that may soon make it tougher to keep blood products stocked on hospital shelves,” said Paul Sullivan, Red Cross senior vice president of donor services. “By choosing a time to give now, donors can help pump up the blood supply for those in immediate need of lifesaving care and those who rely on transfusions for treatment.”

Donors can schedule an appointment to donate using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Fuel up on us

As blood and platelet donations drop, gas prices have reached all-time highs in the U.S. As a thank-you,

all who come to give Aug. 1-31 will be automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year, a $6,000 value. There will be three lucky winners. Everyone who comes to give blood or platelets in August will also receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.*

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 1-26:

Dodge

Beaver Dam

8/22/2022: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St.

8/23/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St.

Fox Lake

8/9/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Living Hope Community Church, 740 W. State St.

Horicon

8/17/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., IAM LL873 Union Hall, 258 Barstow St.

Lomira

8/5/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., St Andrews, W3081 County Road Y

Mayville

8/24/2022: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 134 South Main St.

Randolph

8/15/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Village of Randolph, Village of Randolph, 248 West Stroud St.

Waupun

8/12/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waupun High School, 801 E. Lincoln

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Fond du Lac

Mount Calvary

8/16/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Maximillians, 155 Fond du Lac St.

Ripon

8/4/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ripon High School, 850 Tiger Dr.

8/23/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, 430 Griswold St.

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Jefferson

Fort Atkinson

8/8/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Creamery 201, 201 N. Main St.

Jefferson

8/16/2022: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Jefferson Public Library, 321 S. Main St.

Johnson Creek

8/18/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 417 Union St.

Lake Mills

8/2/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., City Hall, 200 Water St.

Waterloo

8/12/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran School, 413 E. Madison

Watertown

8/5/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Watertown Senior & Community Center, 514 S. First St.

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Kenosha

Kenosha

8/19/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sozo Chiropractic, 1711 Green Bay Rd Suite C

8/25/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kenosha Masonic Center, 115 56th St.

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Milwaukee

Cudahy

8/2/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Cudahy Family Library, 3500 Library Drive

Greendale

8/10/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Martin Luther High School, 5201 South 76th Street

Milwaukee

8/8/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Granular, 316 N. Milwaukee St. #100

8/10/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Eastbrook Church, 5353 N Green Bay Ave.

8/24/2022: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., MobCraft Beer Brewery and Taproom, 505 S. 5th St.

8/25/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., VICI Beauty Schools, 4111 S. 108th St.

8/26/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Southside Church of Christ, 1933 W. Grange Ave.

Oak Creek

8/4/2022: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Nucor Cold Finish, 7200 S. 6th St.

West Allis

8/18/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., West Allis City Hall, 7525 W. Greenfield Ave.

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Ozaukee

Port Washington

8/22/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Matthew Lutheran Church, 1525 N. Grant St.

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Racine

Burlington

8/11/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Low Daily Brewery, 700 N. Pine St.

Racine

8/25/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Racine Public Library, 75 7th St.

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Sheboygan

Cedar Grove

8/9/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Faith Reformed Church, 243 S. Fourth St.

Sheboygan

8/1/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mead Public Library, 710 N. 8th St.

8/5/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave.

8/12/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave.

8/19/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave.

8/26/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave.

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Walworth

Delavan

8/15/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 416 W. Geneva

Elkhorn

8/3/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elkhorn Area High School, 482 E. Geneva St.

8/23/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kunes Country RV, 9 Deere Road

8/26/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sperino’s Monte Carlo Room, 720 N. Wisconsin St.

Lake Geneva

8/12/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Cove of Lake Geneva, 111 Center St.

Walworth

8/4/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Big Foot High School, 401 Devils Lane

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Washington

Hartford

8/11/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Hartford Recreation Center, 125 N. Rural St.

Kewaskum

8/12/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Peace United Church of Christ, 343 1st St.

West Bend

8/3/2022: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., West Bend City Hall, 1115 S Main St.

8/3/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., West Bend City Hall, 1115 S Main St.

8/11/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 301 N. University Dr.

8/12/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion Post 36, 712 Park Ave.

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Waukesha

Brookfield

8/15/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sendik’s Towne Centre, 18905 W Capitol Dr., Suite C101

8/16/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St John’s Lutheran Church, 20275 Davidson Road

8/19/2022: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Wisconsin Athletic Club Brookfield, 20075 Water Tower Blvd.

8/23/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Karate America, 2205 North Calhoun #7

8/25/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Brookfield East High School, 3305 N. Lilly Road

Delafield

8/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Delafield Town Hall, W302-N1254 Maple Ave., Corner of Silvernail Road & Maple Ave.

Hartland

8/5/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hartland Public Library, 110 E. Park Ave.

8/16/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Lake Country Lutheran High School, 401 Campus Dr.

Lannon

8/9/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Johns Lutheran Church, 20851 W. Main St.

Menomonee Falls

8/1/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion Post 382, N88-W16652 Main St.

Merton

8/18/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St Johns United Church of Christ, N67-W28321 Sussex Road

Muskego

8/24/2022: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Muskego Circle Community Center, S63-W13694 Janesville Road

New Berlin

8/1/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Lane

8/3/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Seventh Day Adventist Church, 21380 W. Cleveland Ave.

8/10/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., OAW Indoor Sports Complex, 5330 S. Racine Ave.

8/19/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Woodridge Community Church, 13800 W. Howard Ave.

North Prairie

8/15/2022: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church, S50-W33042 Town Road GE

Oconomowoc

8/8/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, 815 Concord Road

8/19/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Oconomowoc Public Library, 200 W. South St.

Pewaukee

8/1/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Ingleside Hotel, 2810 Golf Road

8/4/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Road

8/11/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Road

8/18/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Road

8/25/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Road

Summit

8/22/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Summit Village Hall, 37100 Delafield Road

Sussex

8/17/2022: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., The Prestwick Group, W248 N5499 Executive Dr.

Waukesha

8/4/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Northwestern Mutual, Waukesha, N14-W23833 Stone Ridge Dr.

Blood drive safety 

The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. The Red Cross will continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities. While donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason. The Red Cross will also adhere to more stringent face mask requirements per state and/or local guidance, or at the request of blood drive sponsors. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at a drive.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.