Upcoming Blood Drives

MANCHESTER — The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood and platelet shortage and asks the public to book a time to give as soon as possible. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets. The Red Cross offers three ways to make a donation appointment that can help save lives:

• Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App

• Visit RedCrossBlood.org

• Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

The Red Cross experienced a significant blood and platelet donation shortfall in August, contributing to the current blood and platelet shortage. To ensure the blood supply recovers, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet hospital and patient needs.

“When blood and platelet supplies drop to critical levels, it makes hospitals and the patients they are treating vulnerable – especially if there is a major accident or emergency medical procedure that requires large quantities of blood during a disaster,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross. “A single car accident victim can use as much as 100 units of blood. By making and keeping donation appointments, donors can help keep hospital shelves stocked with blood products and ensure patients have access to the timely care they deserve.”

As a thank-you, those who come to give Oct. 1-20, 2023, will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.

Unique challenges to blood supply

In late summer, the Red Cross national blood supply dropped by about 25% on the heels of one of the busiest travel seasons and the beginning of back-to-school activities. As people settle back into fall school and work routines, a unique challenge to the blood supply remains – many employees continue to work from home or in a hybrid capacity, reducing the number of opportunities to give blood at business-sponsored blood drives. In fact, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800,000 blood donations were made at blood drives hosted by businesses. Last year, the Red Cross saw only about 500,000 blood donations at these locations – a nearly 40% drop from pre-pandemic levels.

This, coupled with an active disaster season, is creating a perfect “storm” and challenging the organization’s ability to collect a sufficient amount of blood products to meet the needs of hospitals across the country.

The Red Cross provides community blood drives and donation centers across Northern New England. Those who may have previously given at a local business blood drive are encouraged to book a time to give at one of these locations by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Rockingham County: Atkinson: Fri., October 6, 1 p.m. — 6 p.m., Atkinson Community Center, 4 Main Street and Sat., October 14, 9 a.m. — 2 p.m., Buzz Durkin’s Karate School, 2 Commerce Drive; Candia: Sat., October 14, 9 a.m. — 1:30 p.m., Moore School, 12 Deerfield Road; Chester: Sat., October 7, 9 a.m. — 2 p.m., Chester Fire Station, 27 Murphy Drive; Danville: Fri., October 13, 12 p.m. — 5 p.m., Danville Community Center, 169 Main Street; Derry: Fri., October 6, 12 p.m. — 5 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas, 26 Crystal Ave and Fri., October 13, 2 p.m. — 6:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 50 Adams Pond Road; Epping: Mon., October 16, 1 p.m. — 6 p.m., American Legion Post 51-Epping, 232 Calef Highway; Kingston: Thurs., October 19, 12 p.m. — 5 p.m., First Congregational Church, 6 Church Street; Londonderry: Sat., October 7, 9:30 a.m. — 2 p.m., St. Mark the Evangelist, 1 South Road and Tues., October 10, 1 p.m. — 5:30 p.m., Orchard Christian Fellowship, 136 Pillsbury Road; Newington: Thurs., October 5, 12 p.m. — 5 p.m., Mall at Fox Run, 50 Fox Run Road; Portsmouth: Mon., October 9, 9:30 a.m. — 2:30 p.m., Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury Avenue, Wed., October 18, 10 a.m. — 3 p.m., Senior Activity Center, 125 Cottage Street, Thurs., October 19, 2 p.m. — 7 p.m., Portsmouth NH Best Western Plus Wynwood Hotel & Suites, 580 US Hwy 1 Bypass; Raymond: Fri., October 6, 12 p.m. — 5 p.m., Raymond Baptist Church, 145 Rte 27; Rye: Mon., October 9, 10 a.m. — 2:30 p.m., Rye Congregational Church, 580 Washington Road; Salem: Fri., October 13, 11 a.m. — 4 p.m., Bishop Peterson Hall, 37 Main Street; Sandown: Fri., October 20, 11 a.m. — 4 p.m., Sandown Town Hall, 320 Main Street; Seabrook: Mon., October 9, 12:30 p.m. — 6 p.m., Trinity United Church Parish House, 29 Main Street; Windham: Thurs., October 12, 11 a.m. — 4 p.m., St. Matthew Church, 2 Searles Road.