COLUMBUS — The American Red Cross encourages donors to give blood or platelets now to help protect the blood supply from the ongoing impact of severe winter weather and wildfires.
Donors of all blood types – particularly type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets – are needed to help save lives this month.
As dangerous snow and ice continue to sweep across the country, and wildfires in Southern California continue to burn and impact air quality, Red Cross blood drive cancellations have grown into the hundreds.
Collectively, this has resulted in more than 10,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations in January – more than 1,000 of those were scheduled as platelet donations.
Here in the Central & Southern Ohio region, eight blood drives have been canceled since the new year due to weather, resulting in 239 uncollected blood product donations.
More winter storms are forecast for this week − including in areas of the U.S. that do not typically experience significant snowfall − which could further strain the blood supply.
Additionally, hazardous weather conditions have the potential to make it tougher to move vital blood products across the Red Cross network, possibly affecting deliveries to hospitals in some locations.
As National Blood Donor Month continues, the time to give is now.
Where it is safe to do so, donors are asked to book a time to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during this crucial time, those who come to give through Jan. 26, 2025, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
The trip includes access to day-of in-stadium pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare to New Orleans, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 7 to 10, 2025), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses.
For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl. All who come to give Jan. 27 to Feb. 28, 2025, will get a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.
See RedCrossBlood.org/Flurry for details.
Richland County
Bellville
2/11/2025: Noon – 6 p.m., Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 48 Church Street
Butler
1/23/2025: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Community Building, 21555 Pealer Mill Rd
Lucas
2/12/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lucas Community Center, 252 West Main Street
Mansfield
1/22/2025: Noon – 6 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
1/24/2025: Noon – 6 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
1/27/2025: Noon – 6 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
1/29/2025: Noon – 6 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
1/30/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Madison Adult Career Center, 600 Esley Lane
1/31/2025: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
2/4/2025: Noon – 5 p.m., Berean Baptist Church, 2145 Middle Bellville Rd
2/7/2025: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
2/11/2025: Noon – 6 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
2/13/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., St. Peter’s High School, 111 West First Street
2/14/2025: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
2/15/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Richland Mall RSMO, 2209 Richland Mall
Shiloh
2/12/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Planktown Country Market, 1921 Free Road.
Crawford County
Bucyrus
1/24/2025: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bucyrus Community Hospital, 629 N. Sandusky Street
1/30/2025: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Bucyrus High School, 900 W. Perry Street
2/4/2025: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Bucyrus Moose Lodge 669, 216 E Mansfield St
Crestline
2/6/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Crestline High School, 7854 Oldfield Road
Galion
2/11/2025: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Galion Alliance Church, 430 Portland Way N
North Robinson
2/13/2025: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Colonel Crawford High School, 2303 State Route 602
Morrow County
Cardington
2/7/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Cardington Lincoln High School, 349 Chesterville Avenue
2/15/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Cardington Community Methodist Church, 300 South Marion Street
Marengo
2/14/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Marengo United Methodist Church, 8 N. Main Street
Mount Gilead
2/12/2025: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Morrow County Hospital, 651 West Marion Road