Blood supply still fragile after blood emergency; donors urged to help save lives this fall

A steady increase in lifesaving blood products is vital to ensuring hospitals stay ready for any situation this fall. As National Preparedness Month continues, the Red Cross highlights the importance of having a strong supply of blood products already on hand for disasters and emergencies of all kinds and to meet the needs of patients every day.

Now is the time to book an appointment and help patients counting on lifesaving transfusions. To schedule a time to give blood or platelets, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App. In thanks, those who come to give Sept. 1-15, 2024, will receive an exclusive Red Cross raglan T-shirt, while supplies last.

All who come to give Sept. 16-30, 2024, will get a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Fall.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 9-30

WI

Dodge County

Beaver Dam

10/7/2024: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

10/8/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

Fox Lake

10/7/2024: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Fox Lake Community Center, 248 E State Street

Horicon

10/2/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Horicon High School, 841 Gray St

10/9/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Marsh View Ministries, 103 South Cedar St

Hustisford

9/17/2024: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church & School, 269 N Lake St

Juneau

9/23/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Juneau Community Center, 500 Lincoln

Randolph

10/9/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Randolph High School, 110 Meadowood Dr

Watertown

9/30/2024: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, N572 Co Rd R

Fond du Lac County

Waupun

9/12/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Edgewood Church, 201 Edgewood Dr

Campbellsport

9/17/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 350 S Helena St

Eden

10/4/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Eden Fire Department, 104 Pine St

Fond du Lac

9/11/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Fire Department Station 1, 815 S Main St

9/24/2024: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave

9/24/2024: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave

9/27/2024: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St.

10/8/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Moraine Park Tech Coll, 235 N National Ave

10/9/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thrive Church, 79 E 2nd St

Oakfield

9/18/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Oakfield Community Center, 130 N Main St

Rosendale

9/10/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 124 S Main St

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.