SPRINGFIELD, Mo (Jan. 8, 2024) — The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.
Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.
“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges may lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”
Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 8-31:
MO
Barry
Cassville
1/26/2024: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, 301 West 17th Street
1/29/2024: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Crowder College, 4020 North Main Street
Monett
1/30/2024: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Drury University Monett Campus, 400 4th Street
Purdy
1/15/2024: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Purdy High School FEMA Building, 201 S. Gabby Gibbons Dr
Shell Knob
1/22/2024: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Lakeside Christian Church, 22321 Oak Ridge Drive
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Bates
Adrian
1/11/2024: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Optimist Building, 317 South Old 71 Highway
Rich Hill
1/30/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rich Hill Christian Church, 300 E Walnut (A Highway)
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Benton
Lincoln
1/12/2024: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Countryside Eagles #4286, 29354 State Highway H,
Warsaw
1/22/2024: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 154 W. Washington St.
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Camden
Camdenton
1/9/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., C.O.P.S National Office, 846 Old South 5 Highway
1/11/2024: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Old Kinderhook, 54 Club Place
Lake Ozark
1/23/2024: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 755 Bagnell Dam Blvd.
Osage Beach
1/11/2024: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Tri County YMCA of the Ozarks, 950 Airport Road
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Camden County
Camdenton
1/31/2024: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Lake Breeze Event Center, 7127 Old Route 5
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Christian
Ozark
1/9/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Ozark Community Center, 1530 West Jackson
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Greene
Springfield
1/8/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/9/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/12/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/13/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/14/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/15/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/16/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/19/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/20/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/21/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/22/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/23/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/23/2024: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Baptist Bible College, 628 E Kearney St
1/26/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/26/2024: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Council Of Churches Of The Ozarks, 3055 E. Division Street
1/27/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/28/2024: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/29/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/30/2024: 10:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Springfield Blood Donation Center, 313 E. Battlefield, Ste B
1/31/2024: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints YSA Ward, 904 South Kimbrough Avenue
Willard
1/31/2024: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Orchard Hills Ward, 320 West Jackson Street
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Henry
Deepwater
1/18/2024: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lakeland R-3 Schools, 12530 Lakeland School Drive
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Howell
West Plains
1/8/2024: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., West Plains Public Library, 750 West Broadway Street
1/24/2024: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Missouri State University - Rec Center, 323 West Trish Knight St.
1/30/2024: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 503 West Main Street
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Jasper
Joplin
1/8/2024: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Kraft Insurance, 2701 Bird Avenue
1/10/2024: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., VFW Post 534 Auxiliary, 110 East Veterans Way
1/26/2024: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hideout Harley Davidson, 5014 Hearnes Boulevard
1/29/2024: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fletcher Toyota, 2209 South Rangeline Rd
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Laclede
Lebanon
1/29/2024: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., The Mills Center, 650 Mills Drive
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Newton
Neosho
1/11/2024: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., St. Canera Catholic Church, 504 S. Washington St.
1/15/2024: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Lampo Community Center, 500 East Spring Street
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Ozark
Gainesville
1/31/2024: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 301 Disciples Lane
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Pulaski
Saint Robert
1/23/2024: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saint Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 367 Old Route 66
Waynesville
1/30/2024: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Waypoint United Methodist Church, 301 T Hwy
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Stone
Reeds Spring
1/24/2024: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 9113 E State Highway 76
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Taney
Branson
1/19/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Our Lady Of the Lake Catholic Church, 202 Vaughn Drive
Forsyth
1/12/2024: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Elks Lodge, 12951 US-160
Hollister
1/9/2024: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Beginnings Fellowship Church, 151 Elm St
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Vernon
Nevada
1/29/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Center for the Arts Building, 1000 W. Austin Blvd
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