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Donors Wanted: How you can help with 'critical' blood shortage

American Red Cross says winter weather, flu disrupting blood donations

Nasty winter weather and an even nastier flu bug have forced blood drives to cancel and kept blood donors at home.

Now, the American Red Cross says they have a critical shortage, and they are urging you to help.

Severe winter weather forced about 600 blood drives to cancel nationwide. As a result, they lost an estimated 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations, according to the American Red Cross.

A particularly bad flu season has also meant that the blood drives that did happen saw a steep decline in donors, who rightly stayed home when they were sick.

All blood types are needed, but there is a particular need for type O blood.

People who wish to donate blood or platelets can make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-732-2767), by visiting redcrossblood.org or by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Or you can just visit one of the dozens of Northeast Ohio blood drives planned throughout February.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 16-28

Ashtabula

Ashtabula

2/28/2018: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Country Club Retirement Center, 925 E 26th St.

Austinburg

2/19/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Austinburg Town Hall, 2794 State Route 307 E.

Geneva

2/28/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Giant Eagle Geneva, 755 South Broadway Avenue

Pierpont

2/24/2018: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Williams-Ducro Funeral Home, 1071 State Route 7 North

Cuyahoga

Bay Village

2/20/2018: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library Bay Village Branch, 502 Cahoon Road

Beachwood

2/20/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Administrative Campus, 25875 Science Park Drive, Building 3 Lower Cafeteria Annex

Broadview Heights

2/19/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Assumption, 9183 Broadview Road

Brooklyn

2/22/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., HMI Industries Inc, 1 American Way, Suite 1250

Cleveland

2/18/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/19/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/19/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Chamberlain College of Nursing, 6700 Euclid Avenue

2/20/2018: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 Metrohealth Drive

2/20/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/21/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/21/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Legion Post 572, 6483 State Rd.

2/22/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/23/2018: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., Cleveland VA Medical Center, 10701 East Blvd.

2/23/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/23/2018: 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Cleveland VA Medical Center, 10701 East Blvd.

2/24/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/24/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Historic Greater Friendship, 12305 Arlington Ave

2/25/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/26/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/26/2018: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, 1730 West 25th Street

2/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland State University Main Classroom, 2121 Euclid Avenue

2/27/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

2/28/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Cleveland State University Main Classroom, 2121 Euclid Avenue

2/28/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Warzel Blood Donation Center, 3636 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland Heights

2/18/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland, 3630 Fairmount Blvd.

Euclid

2/24/2018: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Euclid Public Library, 631 East 222nd Street

Fairview Park

2/28/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bain Cabin, 21077 North Park Dr

Garfield Heights

2/27/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Marymount Hospital, 12300 McCracken Road

Highland Hills

2/28/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus Highland Hills, 4250 Richmond Road

Independence

2/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Independence Community Center, 6363 Selig Drive

Lakewood

2/26/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lakewood Women’s Club Pavilion, 14532 Lake Ave.

Lyndhurst

2/22/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hyatt Place, 24665 Cedar Road

Mayfield Heights

2/20/2018: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hillcrest Hospital, 6780 Mayfield Road

Mayfield Village

2/22/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mayfield Village Civic Center, 6622 Wilson Mills Rd.

2/24/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Beta Drive

North Royalton

2/26/2018: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library North Royalton Branch, 5071 Wallings Rd

Parma

2/18/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/19/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/20/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/21/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/22/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/23/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/24/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/25/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/26/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/27/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

2/28/2018: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Parma Blood Donation Center, 5585 Pearl Road

Rocky River

2/19/2018: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rocky River Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Rd.

2/25/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., St Christopher Catholic Church, 20141 Detroit Rd

Shaker Heights

2/18/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., St Dominic Church, 3455 Norwood Drive

Solon

2/19/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Resurrection, 32001 Cannon Road

Strongsville

2/20/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St John Neumann, 16271 Pearl Rd

2/21/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library Strongsville Branch, 18700 Westwood Dr

2/27/2018: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Russell Real Estate Services, 12198 Pearl Rd

Valley View

2/19/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Valley View Community Center, 6828 Hathaway Road

Erie

Huron

2/22/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Huron Public Library, 333 Williams St.

Sandusky

2/20/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kalahari Waterpark and Resort, 7000 Kalahari DR

2/23/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Firelands Regional Medical Center, 1912 Hayes Ave

2/27/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sandusky High School, 2130 Hayes Ave

2/27/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holy Angels Catholic Church, 428 Tiffin Ave

Vermilion

2/22/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Vermilion High School, 1250 Sanford St.

Geauga

Chesterland

2/21/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mayfield Church, 7747 Mayfield Rd.

Parkman

2/19/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market Rd. Rt. 422

Huron

Greenwich

2/23/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., South Central High School, 3305 Greenwich Angling Road

Norwalk

2/19/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 60 West Main St.

Willard

2/27/2018: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., St Francis Xavier School, 25 West Perry St.

Lake

Concord

2/20/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Quail Hollow Country Club, 11295 Quail Hollow Drive

Concord Twp

2/27/2018: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Physician Pavilion at TriPoint Medical Center, 7580 Auburn Road

Kirtland

2/22/2018: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Kirtland Community Center, 7900 Chardon Rd.

Madison

2/20/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Cornerstone Friends Church, 2300 Hubbard Rd.

Mentor

2/19/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., St John Vianney Church, 7575 Bellflower Rd.

2/21/2018: 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Sterling Morton Elementary School, 9292 Jordan Dr.

2/23/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Pilgrim Lutheran Brethren Church, 9514 Johnnycake Ridge Rd.

2/25/2018: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Vitality Church, 8500 Station Street, Suite 375

Painesville

2/18/2018: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cobblestone Court Apartments, 842 Cobblestone Court

2/20/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Morley Library, 184 Phelps Street

2/23/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lake County YMCA Central Branch, 933 Mentor Ave.

Willoughby

2/23/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., West Medical Center, 36000 Euclid Ave.

Willoughby Hills

2/25/2018: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., St Noel Church, 35200 Chardon Rd.

Lorain

Avon

2/21/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Avon Family Health and Surgery Center, 33100 Cleveland Clinic Blvd.

Wellington

2/21/2018: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Penfield Township Community Center, 41012 State Route 18

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.

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