Several sites schedule blood drives in February
Recent severe weather has more than doubled the number of canceled American Red Cross blood drives, creating blood and platelet donation shortfalls since earlier in January.
The Red Cross now considers the situation critical and is reissuing an urgent call for blood and platelet donors.
More than 550 blood drives were cancelled in January, causing over 16,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. In addition, bitter cold and widespread flu have contributed to low turnouts at many blood drives.
“Blood and platelet donations currently are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in,” external communications manager of the Red Cross Blood Services Region Laura McGuire said in a news release. “Donors are critically needed to restock the shelves for patients in their community as well as areas where donors are unable to give due to inclement weather.”
Every day, no matter the weather, the Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations to meet needs.
Make an appointment by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 800-RED CROSS (733-2767).
Here are some of the scheduled blood drives in the area:
- Elkhorn, Feb. 7, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Alternative High School, 400 Highway H;
- Waukesha, Feb. 9, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Waukesha Public Library, 321 Wisconsin Ave.
- Lake Geneva, Feb. 9, noon to 5 p.m., The Cove of Lake Geneva, 111 Center St.
- North Prairie, Feb. 12, 2 to 6:30 p.m., Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church, S50 W33042 Town Road GE;
- Waukesha, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Campus Center, 100 N. East Ave.;
- Waukesha, Feb. 19, 2 to 6:30 p.m., Ethnos 360 Bible Institute, 606 Arcadia Ave.;
- Elkhorn, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sperino’s Monte Carlo Room, 720 N. Wisconsin St.; and
- Mukwonago, Feb. 27, 1 to 6 p.m., Mukwonago Community Library, 511 Division St.
