CLEVELAND — The American Red Cross says they are experiencing an emergency blood shortage with the lowest post-summer blood supply since 2015.
The Red Cross says they must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week throughout the next month for the blood supply to become stable and meet the needs of hospitals and patients.
“Donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to give now and in the weeks ahead to overcome this current shortage,” officials said.
There are several ways you can sign up to donate blood:
- Red Cross Blood Donor app
- RedCrossBlood.org
- Calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
“Blood donor turnout has reached the lowest levels of the year as many delayed giving amid a return to the workplace and in-person learning, as well as a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the country due to the delta variant,” Red Cross officials said Monday. “As cases spiked in August, blood donor participation decreased about 10 percent, but blood product distributions to hospitals have remained strong, significantly outpacing blood donations in recent weeks.”
On a national level, the Red Cross says their O positive and O negative blood inventory dropped to less than half a day’s supply multiple times during the last month.
“Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds as donors are more available to give than during the busy summer months, but this year has presented a unique and serious challenge,” said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer for the Red Cross. “While it’s clear the pandemic continues to weigh heavily on our minds, the Red Cross asks the public to remember donating blood and platelets is essential to many patients that rely on lifesaving transfusions every day.”
The Red Cross will be thanking everyone who donates through Sept. 30 with a limited-edition, football-inspired Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last, plus a free haircut coupon by e-mail from Sport Clips Haircuts. Donors in October will also be thanked with a link by e-mail to claim a free Zaxby’s Signature Sandwich reward or get a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 27-Oct.15
American Red Cross Blood Donation Centers
Warzel Blood Donation Center
3747 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
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Parma Blood Donation Center
5585 Pearl Rd., Parma
Monday – Thursday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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Summit Blood Donation Center
501 W. Market St., Akron
Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesdays: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Ashtabula County
Ashtabula
10/1/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Training Center, 2870 Middle Road
10/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Ashtabula Towne Square Mall, 3315 N Ridge Rd E
Geneva
10/10/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Peoples Church, 300 South Ridge East
Jefferson
10/4/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Jefferson United Methodist Church, 125 E Jefferson St
Rock Creek
10/11/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Eagleville Bible Church, 1981 State Route 45
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Cuyahoga County
Bay Village
10/6/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bay Lodge, 492 Bradley Road
Beachwood
10/15/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Beachwood Community Center, 25451 Fairmount Blvd
Bedford
10/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, 38 Tarbell Avenue
Berea
9/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., United Methodist Church Berea, 170 Seminary St.
Brecksville
10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Brecksville Community Center, One Community Drive
Brook Park
9/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Brookpark Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Rd
Brooklyn
9/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Brooklyn Senior Center, 7727 Memphis Avenue
Cleveland
9/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Grace Church Middleburg Heights, 7393 Pearl Road
10/1/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Fairview Hospital, 18101 Lorain Ave.
10/6/2021: 6 a.m. – 4 p.m., Dave McCall Union Hall, 3421 Independence Road
10/7/2021: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., Cleveland VA EUL Building, 1620 East 105TH Street
10/8/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 10300 Carnegie Ave.
10/10/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St Patrick Church, 4427 Rocky River Drive
10/12/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower, 1360 West Mall Drive
10/13/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland State University Main Classroom, 2121 Euclid Avenue
10/14/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland State University Main Classroom, 2121 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland Heights
9/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Church of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Road
10/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Road
10/15/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Cleveland Hts Library, 2345 Lee Road
Fairview Park
9/29/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bain Cabin, 21077 North Park Dr
Independence
10/5/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Elmwood Recreation Center, 6200 W. Pete Wisnieski Parkway
Lakewood
9/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lakewood Womens Club Pavilion, 14532 Lake Ave.
9/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Edward High School, 13500 Detroit Rd.
10/3/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., St Luke Catholic Church, 1212 Bunts Rd
10/10/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Lakewood United Methodist Church, 15700 Detroit Rd.
Lyndhurst
9/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lyndhurst Community Center, 1341 Parkview Drive
Mayfield Heights
10/7/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hillcrest Hospital, 6780 Mayfield Road
10/11/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mayfield Hts DeJohn Community Center, 6306 Marsol Dr.
Mayfield Village
9/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Mayfield Branch Library, 500 SOM Center
9/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Beta Drive
10/7/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mayfield Village Civic Center, 6622 Wilson Mills Rd.
10/12/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Mayfield Branch Library, 500 SOM Center
10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Beta Drive
North Olmsted
10/6/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., North Olmsted Community Cabin, 28114 Lorain Rd.
10/15/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library North Olmsted Branch, 27403 Lorain Road
Olmsted Township
9/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Olmsted Township, 7900 Fitch Road
10/11/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Olmsted Township, 7900 Fitch Road
Rocky River
10/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rocky River Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Rd.
Seven Hills
10/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Seven Hills Cmnty Rec Center, 7777 Summitview Drive
Solon
9/28/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Church of the Resurrection, 32001 Cannon Road
10/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Solon Community Center, 35000 Portz Parkway
10/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Signature of Solon, 39000 Signature Drive
Strongsville
10/5/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St John Neumann, 16271 Pearl Rd
10/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Strongsville Family Health & Surgery Center, 16761 Southpark Center
10/10/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., First Lutheran Church, 19419 Royalton Rd
10/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Cuyahoga County Library Strongsville Branch, 18700 Westwood Dr
University Heights
9/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll University Blvd.
Warrensville Heights
10/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cleveland Marriott East, 26300 Harvard Rd.
Westlake
9/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Rd.
10/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Rd.
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Erie County
Huron
10/12/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 225 Williams St.
Sandusky
9/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 3615 Hayes Ave
10/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Firelands Regional Medical Center, 1912 Hayes Ave Sandusky
Vermilion
10/12/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Vermilion High School, 1250 Sanford St.
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Geauga County
Burton
9/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Century Village Museum, 14653 E. Park St.
Chagrin Falls
10/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Adam Hall, 11455 E. Washington St.
10/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bainbridge Town Hall, 17826 Chillicothe Rd
Chardon
9/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chardon United Methodist Church, 515 North St.
10/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Munson Town Hall, 12210 Auburn Rd.
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Kirtland
10/14/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Kirtland Community Center, 7900 Euclid-Chardon Rd.
Mentor
10/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Advent Lutheran Church, 7985 Munson Rd.
Mentor
10/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Great Lakes Mall, 7850 Mentor Ave.
Mentor
10/12/2021: 12 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Mentor Civic Arena, 8600 Munson Rd.
Painesville
10/11/2021: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Quail Hollow Country Club, 11295 Quail Hollow Drive
10/14/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Morley Library, 184 Phelps Street
Wickliffe
9/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Wickliffe Public Library, 1713 Lincoln Rd.
Willoughby
10/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Willoughby City Hall, 1 Public Square
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Avon
9/29/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Avon Isle Park, 37080 Detroit Road
9/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Play: CLE, 38525 Chester Rd
10/12/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Avon Isle Park, 37080 Detroit Road
Avon Lake
10/4/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd.
Elyria
10/11/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Elyria Family Health Center, 303 Chestnut Commons, Family Health & Surgery Center
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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in a previous story about a Red Cross blood shortage on June 15, 2021.
