Red Cross sees lowest post-summer supply in 6 years, emergency shortage enters third week

Jennifer Bredow

(ABC 6 News) – The American Red Cross has entered its third week experiencing an emergency blood shortage.

In a press release, The American Red Cross said the blood shortage has caused the supply to drop to its lowest post-summer level in at least six years. Blood donor turnout also decreased by about 10% as summer ended.

Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds from summer blood shortages, but a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. due to the delta variant has contributed to the lowest donor turnout of the year. To shore up inventory, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week this month to meet hospital and patient needs.

"With less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks, the Red Cross asks donors of all blood types – especially type O − to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible to ensure patients can receive the lifesaving transfusions they rely on. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)."

Donors can save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct.16-31:

  • Fillmore County
    • Preston – 10/21/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., F&M Community Bank, 100 Saint Anthony St. N.
    • Rushford – 10/20/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Joseph’s Church, 105 N. Mill St.
  • Freeborn County
    • Albert Lea – 10/29/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce, 2510 Bridge St.
    • Alden – 10/26/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alden Conger High School, 215 N. Broadway
  • Mower County
    • Austin
      • 10/18/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1701 4th St. NW
      • 10/19/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1701 4th St. NW
  • Steele County
    • Owatonna
      • 10/20/2021: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 S. Lincoln Ave.
      • 10/21/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Lowe’s Owatonna, 1280 21st Ave. N.
  • Wabasha County
    • Wabasha – 10/26/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., VFW Wabasha, 138 Second St.
  • Winona County
    • Rollingstone – 10/28/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holy Trinity Community Center, 111 Broadway St.
    • Winona
      • 10/19/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sobieski Park Lodge, 965 E. Wabasha
      • 10/21/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 766 W. Wabasha St.
      • 10/26/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Winona Mason Lodge #18, 926 W. 5th
      • 10/27/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., John Nett Recreation Center, 1115 W. Broadway St.

All those who come to donate in October will receive a link by email to claim a free Zaxby’s® Signature Sandwich reward or get a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.* Plus, all those who come to give Oct. 11-31 will receive a bonus $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.