Flu season may impact Red Cross blood supply

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 7, 2022 — The American Red Cross urges blood and platelet donors to give now and help fight the potential impact of seasonal illnesses and a potentially severe flu season on the blood supply.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts a serious spread of flu this year and is already reporting an early spike in cases in several states. When seasonal illnesses increase, the number of healthy donors tends to decrease, leaving the Red Cross blood supply vulnerable to a potential shortage over the holidays.

Paired with busy holiday schedules, seasonal illnesses may make it harder to collect the blood hospital patients require this winter. Donors − especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets − can help bolster the blood supply now by making an appointment to give in the coming weeks.

There is no waiting period to donate blood or platelets after receiving a flu shot. Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Learn more about flu safety and prevention at redcross.org/flusafety.

As a thank-you, the Red Cross is offering several opportunities to donors this month:

• All who come to give Nov. 1-22 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Details are available at rcblood.org/perks.
• Those who come to give over the Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 23-27, will get a Red Cross knit beanie, while supplies last.
• All who come out to help Nov. 28-Dec. 15 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon. Details are available at rcblood.org/together.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 7-Dec. 9:

Dodge

Ashippun

11/14/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ashippun Town Hall, W1266 Hwy O

 

Fox Lake

11/17/2022: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fox Lake Correctional, W10237 Lake Emily Rd

12/5/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Living Hope Community Church, 740 W. State St, PO Box 111

 

Juneau

11/21/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Johns Lutheran Church & School, 402 S Main St

 

Lomira

11/28/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 300 Church ST

 

Mayville

11/10/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Mayville Hometown Pharmacy, 1448 Horicon Street

 

Waupun

11/10/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Edgewood Church, 201 Edgewood Dr

12/7/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Waupun High School, 801 E Lincoln

Fond du Lac

Brandon

11/15/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bethel Reformed Church, 305 W Main St

 

Fond du Lac

11/9/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., St Mary’s Springs High School, 255 Cty Rd K

11/15/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Fond du Lac High School, 801 Campus Dr

11/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thrive Church, 79 E 2nd St

11/22/2022: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave

11/22/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave

11/25/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., YMCA, 90 W 2nd St

 

Oakfield

12/2/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Oakfield Community Center, 130 N Main St

 

Ripon

11/10/2022: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ripon High School, 850 Tiger Dr

11/16/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ripon College, 300 Seward St

Jefferson

Ixonia

12/8/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Pauls Ixonia, W1955 Gopher Hill Rd.

 

Johnson Creek

11/22/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, W4095 County Rd B

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

 

Lake Mills

11/25/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Rock Lake Activity Center, 229 Fremont St.

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

 

Waterloo

11/18/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Waterloo High School, 865 N Monroe St

12/2/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran School, 413 E Madison

 

Watertown

11/7/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Maranatha Baptist University, 745 W Main St

11/16/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Watertown Senior & Community Center, 514 S. First Street

11/28/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 112 Hall Street

11/29/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 112 Hall Street

Milwaukee

Greendale

11/17/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., The Hose Tower, 5699 Parking St

 

Milwaukee

11/8/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., General Mitchell Airport Delta Air Lines, 5300 S Howell Ave

11/18/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Schlitz Park, 1555 N River Center Dr

11/18/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., East Library Milwaukee Public Library, 2320 N Cramer Street

11/22/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lutheran Chapel of the Cross, 3353 S. Whitnall

11/23/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Broken Bat Brewing Co, 135 E Pittsburgh Ave

11/25/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Loving Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3909 W Clinton Ave

11/29/2022: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Milwaukee Academy of Science, 2000 W. Kilbourn

11/30/2022: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., MobCraft Beer Brewery and Taproom, 505 S 5th St

12/1/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ronald Reagan High School, 4965 S 20th St

12/1/2022: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Gee’s Clippers, 2200 N. Dr. M.L.K. Jr Dr.

12/2/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marquette Gymnasium, 1508 W. Clybourn Street

 

Oak Creek

11/8/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Oak Creek East Middle School, 9330 S Shepard Ave

11/17/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Salvation Army Oak Creek Centennial Church, 8853 S. Howell Ave.

 

River Hills

11/22/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Christophers Episcopal Church, 7845 N River Rd

Racine

Burlington

11/23/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Low Daily Brewery, 700 N Pine St

 

Racine

11/22/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Catherine’s High School Racine, 1200 Park Ave.

11/25/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Ave

Sheboygan

Elkhart Lake

11/18/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Elkhart Lake High School, 201 Lincoln St

 

Plymouth

11/10/2022: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, N5990 Country Aire Rd

 

Sheboygan

11/11/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

11/18/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

11/25/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

12/2/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

12/9/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

Walworth

East Troy

11/14/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St -Hwy 20

 

Elkhorn

12/7/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Eklhorn High School, 482 East Geneva Street

12/8/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kunes Country RV, 9 Deere Rd

 

Lake Geneva

11/18/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Como Community Church, W3901 Palmer Road

11/21/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Badger High School, 220 E South St

12/9/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Cove of Lake Geneva, 111 Center Street

 

Whitewater

11/11/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Cravath Lakefront Community Center, 341 S Fremont Street

11/16/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., University of Wisconsin Whitewater, 228 Wyman Pedestrian Mall

Washington

Jackson

11/8/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Still Waters Community United Methodist Church, 3617 Scenic Rd

11/23/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Jackson Community Center, N165 W20330 Hickory Ln

 

Slinger

12/7/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Slinger Community Library, 220 Slinger Rd

Waukesha

Brookfield

11/29/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel, 375 S Moorland Road

11/30/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Brookfield Central High School, 16900 Gebhardt Rd

12/2/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sendik’s Towne Centre, 18905 W Capitol Dr, Suite C101

12/7/2022: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Bishops Woods Office Park, 375 Bishops Way

 

Hartland

11/9/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church and School, 1023 E Capitol Drive

11/10/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Oakwood Church, 3041 Oakwood Rd

 

Menomonee Falls

11/23/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion Post 382, N88 W16652 Main St

 

Mukwonago

12/5/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hillside Community Church, S93 W30580 County Road NN

 

Muskego

11/16/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Muskego High School, W185S8750 Racine Ave

 

Nashotah

11/17/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., MSI General, W215 E. Wisconsin Ave

 

New Berlin

11/7/2022: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., New Berlin West Middle & High School, 18695 W Cleveland Ave

11/15/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln

12/9/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Eisenhower High School, 4333 S Sunnyslope Rd

 

North Lake

12/5/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., North Lake School, N75 W31283 Hwy VV

 

Oconomowoc

12/2/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., YMCA at Pabst Farms, 1750 Valley Rd

12/5/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 145 E. Lisbon Rd

 

Pewaukee

11/10/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

11/15/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, W240 N3103 Pewaukee Rd

11/17/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

12/1/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

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

 

Sussex

11/25/2022: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Ironwood Golf Course, W270 N6166 Moraine Dr

 

Waukesha

11/11/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Montessori School of Waukesha, 601 N University Dr

11/18/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Carroll University, 210 N. Grand Avenue

11/21/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raised Grain Brewing Company, 1725 Dolphin Drive

11/25/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Pizza Ranch, 930 Fleetfoot Dr.

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.

Amplify Your Impact − Volunteer!

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for a either position, contact VolunteerWisconsin@redcross.org or visit https://www.redcross.org/volunteertoday.

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. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.