Rockridge Residents Asked to Donate Blood

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply. Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply.

The Red Cross strives to keep a five-day blood supply available at all times to meet the needs of patients every day and be prepared for emergencies that would require significant volumes of donated blood products. Currently, however, the Red Cross has less than a five-day supply on hand.

“Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” said Neil Tosuntikool, donor recruitment director of the Red Cross Northern California Services Region. “Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks.

If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.”

How to Help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.

Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world.

Who Blood Donations Help

Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

Because of generous donors, the Red Cross is able to provide blood products to patients like 11-year- old Mae Rainey, who needs regular blood transfusions as part of her treatment for a blood disorder.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities that the Red Cross has given us to get her to her healthiest state,” said Caleb Rainey, Mae’s older brother. Watch Mae’s story to learn how blood donations can make a lifesaving difference.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Alameda County

Alameda

• 7/20/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Abbott Diabetes Care, 1360 South Loop Road

Berkeley

• 7/21/2016: 12 - 6 p.m., Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave.

Newark

• 7/21/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Fremont - Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Blvd.
• 7/22/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Fremont - Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Blvd.
• 7/23/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Fremont - Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Blvd.

Oakland

• 7/19/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Ave.
• 7/20/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Ave.
• 7/21/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Ave.
• 7/22/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Ave.
• 7/23/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Ave.

Pleasanton

• 7/19/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5556-B Springdale Ave.
• 7/21/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5556-B Springdale Ave.
• 7/22/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5556-B Springdale Ave.
• 7/23/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5556-B Springdale Ave.

San Lorenzo

• 7/23/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, San Lorenzo, 859 Grant Ave.

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Contra Costa County

Brentwood

• 7/22/2016: 1 - 7 p.m., Resurrection (Ministries) Lutheran Church, 1275 Fairview Ave.

Pleasant Hill

• 7/19/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/20/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/22/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/23/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane

Announcement submitted by Red Cross; Photo courtesy Shutterstock