Plano Area Red Cross Blood Drives Coming Up Soon

PLANO, TX — The Red Cross has an emergency need for eligible blood donors as surgeries and other procedures ramp up as the coronavirus pandemic recedes.

The need is especially great for platelet donations, which are primarily given to cancer patients during treatment. Platelet donations must be transfused within five days and are always in high demand due to their short shelf life.

“Many cancer patients, especially those going through chemotherapy, will have a need for blood products during treatment,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross, in a statement. “When someone donates blood or platelets, they may not only help prevent life-threatening bleeding that can cause stroke, or relieve some symptoms like shortness of breath and headaches, but also give patients and their families the time and hope they need to fight back.”

Many cancer patients were forced to delay or cancel procedures early in the pandemic to reduce risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

Here are the Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Plano area in the next few weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 6/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., The Campus at Legacy, 5340 Legacy Drive (Plano)
• 6/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Shops At Willow Bend, 6121 W. Park Blvd, Suite 1000 (Plano)
• 6/6/2021: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W Elliott Drive (Frisco)
• 6/7/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Plano Family YMCA, 3300 McDermott Road (Plano)
• 6/7/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Frisco Family YMCA, 3415 W Main St (Frisco)
• 6/18/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Lincoln Property Company, 1820 Preston Park Blvd. (Plano)
• 6/22/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Residence Inn Dallas Plano Richardson at Coit Road, 300 Silverglen Drive (Plano)
• 6/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Plano Super Bowl, 2521 Avenue K (Plano)
• 6/25/2021: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Chick-fil-A in Plano, 6408 Plano Pkwy (Plano)
• 6/26/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tacodeli, 8442 Parkwood Blvd, #700 (Plano)
• 6/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church Plano, 3160 E Spring Creek Pkwy (Plano)
• 6/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Douglass Community Center, 1111 Avenue H (Plano)
• 7/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Lincoln Property Company, 4975 Preston Park Blvd., Suite 35 (Plano)

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the American Red Cross. The local blood drives included in the list are limited to those at the time the Red Cross data was pulled. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org for the most current listing of drives. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com. Know of another blood drive coming up in your area? You can add it to the Patch calendar using this form.

People who have received a coronavirus vaccine can donate blood so long as they are symptom-free, feeling well and can provide the vaccine manufacturer's name, according to the American Red Cross. There is no waiting period after getting a vaccine dose.

All blood types are needed, especially type O, to refuel the country’s blood stockpile for the spring and summer.

In most states, donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health; some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent. Donors 18 years old and younger need to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. Appointments can be made via the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, online or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.