Red Cross Facing Blood Shortage in Oregon

Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially needed at this time.

The American Red Cross is facing a looming blood shortage, leading to an urgent need for donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and give. Photo Courtesy: Red Cross

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The American Red Cross is facing a looming blood shortage in Oregon, and nationwide, leading to an urgent need for donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and give.

Donations through the Red Cross are down approximately 8 percent over the last 11 weeks, resulting in about 80,000 fewer donations than expected. The number of donors continues to decline, and the shortfall is significant enough that the Red Cross could experience an emergency situation in the coming weeks.

In addition, the Independence Day holiday falling on Friday reduced the number of blood drives scheduled in early July. Many sponsors did not host drives because people took vacations either over the long weekend or for the entire week.

In an average summer week, about 4,400 Red Cross blood drives are scheduled, compared to Independence Day week when only 3,450 drives occurred.

"Hospital patients continue to need lifesaving blood this summer, and they're relying on the generosity of volunteer donors to give them hope in the days and weeks ahead," said Jeff Allen, CEO for the Red Cross Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region. "Please, consider giving the gift of life. Each day donations come up short, less blood is available for patients in need - and you never know when it could be your loved one needing blood."

Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially needed at this time. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.

There is also an urgent need for platelet donations. Platelets - a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, burn victims and bone marrow recipients - must be transfused within five days of donation, so it's important to have a steady supply of platelets on hand.

The summer can be among the most challenging times of the year for blood and platelet donations as regular donors delay giving while they take vacations and participate in summer activities. When school is out of session for summer break, donations from those who normally give on campus tend to drop by more than 80 percent.

Every day this summer is a chance to give hope to patients in need and their network of family and friends. July 13 marked the half-way point for the Red Cross campaign "100 Days of Summer. 100 Days of Hope."

Blood and platelet donations are needed now and for the rest of the summer.

Individuals who donated blood earlier this summer may now be eligible to donate again and help patients such as accident victims, heart surgery patients and children with blood disorders.

Blood Donors Must:

Be in good general health and feeling well*

Be at least 17-years-old in most states, or 16-years-old with parental consent if allowed by state law.

Weigh at least 110 lbs.

Each donor receives a brief examination during which temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin (or hematocrit) are measured.

*Note: Healthy means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, healthy also means that you are being treated and the condition is under control. If you are not feeling well on the day of your donation, please call to reschedule.

To learn more and make an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

American Red Cross Blood Centers

Portland Blood Donation Center - 3131 N Vancouver Avenue:

Monday: 1:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday: Closed

Salem Blood Donation Center - 475 Cottage Street NE:

Monday: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (open only on first Saturday of each month)

Sunday: Closed

Vancouver Blood Donation Center - 5109 NE 82nd Avenue:

Monday and Tuesday: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday: Closed

Friday: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

American Red Cross Mobile Blood Drives:

OREGON:

Clackamas County:

Estacada:

Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Estacada Assembly of God, 478 NW Wade St.

Lake Oswego:

Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at City Hall, 380 A Ave.

Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 790 A Ave.

Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lightspeed Aviation, 6135 Jean Road

Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kruse Woods Corporate Park, 4000 Kruse Way Place

Milwaukie:

Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 10955 SE 25th Ave.

Aug. 11 from noon to 5 p.m. at Fred Meyer, 14700 SE McLoughlin Blvd.

Aug. 11 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 7414 SE Michael Drive

Aug. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at City Hall, 10722 SE Main St.

Aug. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at Pamplin Media, 6605 SE Lake Road

Aug. 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Bob's Red Mill, 5000 SE International Way

Oregon City:

Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clackamas Community College, 19600 S Molalla Ave.

Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Public Service Building, 2051 Kaen Road

Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clackamas Community College, 19600 S Molalla Ave.

Sandy:

Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sandy Community Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd.

West Linn:

Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at City Hall, 22500 Salamo Road

Wilsonville:

Aug. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Charbonneau Country Club, 32000 SW Charbonneau Drive

Lincoln County:

Lincoln City:

Aug. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1886, 2020 NE 22nd St.

Newport:

Aug. 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Newport Performing Arts Center, 777 W Olive St.

Aug. 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Samaritan Pacific Community Hospital, 930 SW Abbey St.

Aug. 14 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church, 2315 N Coast Highway

Waldport:

Aug. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Community Presbyterian Church, 485 NE Bay St.

Marion County:

Keizer:

Aug. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Elks Lodge #2472, 4250 Cherry Ave. NE

Salem:

Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Country Financial, 2150 Country Drive S

Aug. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente, 2400 Lancaster Drive NE

Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chemeketa Communtiy College, 4000 Lancaster Drive NE

Aug. 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1770 Baxter Road SE

Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Salem Saturday Market, Corner of Summer and Marion streets

Aug. 12 from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Oregon State Department of Agriculture, 635 Capitol St. NE

Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Salem Public Library, 585 Liberty St. SE

Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oregon State Department of Military, 1776 Militia Way SE

Woodburn:

Aug. 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St Luke's Catholic Church, 417 Harrison St.

Multnomah County:

Fairview:

Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Blue Lake Park, 20500 NW Marine Drive

Aug. 5 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at City Hall, 1300 NE Village St.

Gresham:

Aug. 6 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Howard Johnson Inn, 1572 NE Burnside Road

Aug. 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Howard Johnson Inn, 1572 NE Burnside Road

Portland:

Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Zidell Marine Corporation, 3121 SW Moody Ave.

Aug. 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Bank of America, 121 SW Morrison St.

Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fox Tower, 805 SW Broadway

Aug. 5 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fremont United Methodist Church, 2620 NE Fremont St.

Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Colliers International, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd.

Aug. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Meier and Frank Depot Building, 1417 NW Everett St.

Aug. 7 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Blvd.

Aug. 8 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Blvd.

Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Waffle Window, 3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

Aug. 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Portland General Electric, 121 SW Salmon St.

Aug. 12 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Gateway Church, 13300 NE San Rafael St.

Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oregon Public Health Services, 800 NE Oregon St.

Aug. 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Moreland Presbyterian Church, 1814 SE Bybee Blvd.

Aug. 13 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2931 SE Harrison St.

Aug. 14 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Road

Polk County:

Salem:

8/16/2014: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ace Hardware, 820 Wallace Road NW

Washington County:

Banks:

Aug. 7 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 42451 NW Depot St.

Beaverton:

Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big Al's, 14950 SW Barrows Road

Aug. 6 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Cedar Hills Crossing Mall, 3205 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.

Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Tektronix, 14150 SW Karl Braun Drive

Aug. 7 from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Beaverton Resource Center, 12500 SW Allen Blvd.

Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Tektronix, 14150 SW Karl Braun Drive

Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nimbus Corporate Business Center, 9403 SW Nimbus Drive

Aug. 14 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Village Baptist Church, 330 SW Murray Blvd.

Aug. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oregon Gymnastics Academy, 16305 NW Bethany Court

Forest Grove:

Aug. 12 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at City of Forest Grove, 1915 Main St.

Hillsboro:

Aug. 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 937 NE Jackson School Road

Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fred Meyer, 6495 SE TV Highway

Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Washington County Administration Building, 155 N. First Ave.

Portland:

Aug. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Portland Clinic Tigard, 9250 SW Hall Blvd.

Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Everest Institute, 9600 SW Oak St.

Aug. 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Road

Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Regency Park, 8300 Barnes Road

Aug. 11 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Road

Tigard:

Aug. 1 from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 11305 SW Bull Mountain Road

Aug. 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Tigard Foursquare Church, 13270 SW Pacific Highway

Aug. 8 from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 11305 SW Bull Mountain Road

Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Starbucks, 13560 SW Pacific Highway

Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Western Family Foods, 6700 SW Sandburg St.

Aug. 15 from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 11305 SW Bull Mountain Road

Tualatin:

Aug. 1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 20400 SW Teton Ave.

Aug. 1 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Umpqua Bank, 8235 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road

Aug. 2 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Fred Meyer, 19200 SW Martinazzi Ave.

Yamhill County:

Carlton:

Aug. 4 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at American Legion #173, 158 E Main St.

McMinnville:

Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Willamette Valley Medical Center, 2700 SE Stratus Ave.

Newberg:

Aug. 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church, 2315 N Main St.

Aug. 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 301 S River St.

Source: Red Cross of Oregon