The American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage Monday, July 13, after the national blood
supply fell nearly 25% during June.
The organization is asking eligible donors to schedule appointments as soon as possible, with several blood
drives planned in Hastings, Cottage Grove and surrounding communities during the second half of July. Summer can be a difficult season for maintaining the blood supply. Regular donors may be traveling, schools that normally host blood drives are closed, and temporary illnesses or busy schedules can lead people to postpone appointments.
At the same time, hospitals often see an increased need for blood to treat injuries from vehicle crashes, recreational accidents and other summertime emergencies. Blood is also needed every day for patients undergoing cancer treatment, people with chronic blood disorders, mothers experiencing complications during childbirth and patients requiring surgery.
Red Cross blood distributions to hospitals are currently running nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected. The combination of increased hospital demand and declining donations has created a growing gap between the amount of blood available, and the amount requested for patient care.
All blood types are needed, although the shortage is especially serious for O positive and B negative blood, along with AB plasma. Type O blood is particularly important in emergency situations, when medical teams may not have time to determine a patient’s blood type before beginning treatment.
“Summer always brings challenges for the blood supply, but patients are still in the hospital, needing blood for critical medical care,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, a division chief medical officer for the Red Cross. Two blood drives are scheduled in Hastings during July. The first will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Hastings Arts Center, 216 Fourth St. E. A second Hastings drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 24, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Catholic Church, 2035 W. 15th St. In Cottage Grove, a blood drive will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 27, at the VFW Red Barn, 9260 East Point Douglas Road.
Additional Washington County drives will give residents several nearby options. A drive is scheduled from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at the American Legion in St. Paul Park, 328 Broadway Ave. Woodbury drives are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at the Woodbury YMCA, 2175 Radio Drive, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, July 20, at Wulff Woodbury Funeral Home, 2195 Woodlane Drive.
 Talamore Senior Living, 289 Karen Drive in Woodbury, will host a drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 23. Woodbury Lutheran Church, 7380 Afton Road, will host another drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 31.
Dakota County residents can also find drives in Farmington, Eagan, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville and West St. Paul. Dakota Electric in Farmington will host a drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. Eagan Community Center will hold drives from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, and Wednesday, July 29.
Appointments can be scheduled through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Although walk-in donors may sometimes be accommodated, making an appointment helps blood drive organizers plan staffing and reduce waiting times. Donors are asked to bring a blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification. People who are at least 17 years old in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be
eligible to donate. Some 16-year-olds may donate with parental consent, and younger donors must meet additional height and weight requirements. Donors can also complete the required health history questions before arriving by using RapidPass on the day of their appointment. The Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation’s donated blood. Unlike many other medical supplies, blood cannot be manufactured or stored indefinitely. The supply must be continuously replenished by volunteer donors. Anyone who comes to donate blood or platelets between July 13 and July 31 will receive a Fandango movie ticket by email, valued at up to $15, as a thank-you from the Red Cross. For patients waiting for a transfusion, however, the most important result of an appointment will not be the movie ticket. It will be another unit of blood available when a hospital, ambulance crew or emergency room needs it.