Red Cross: Blood shortage is critical

PORTSMOUTH — The American Red Cross is asking the public’s help as it faces what it's calling a critical blood supply shortage.

Right now, the American Red Cross has a critical type O blood shortage and urgently needs donors of all blood types – especially types O negative and O positive – to give blood or platelets. Without more donors, patient care may be impacted. Winter is notoriously a difficult time to collect enough blood and platelet donations to meet patient needs.

Mary Brandt, communications manager for the American Red Cross in the Northeast, said all blood types are needed but there is a crucial need for O types.

"O positive is the most common of the O types and can be given to RH positive patients of any blood type, and O negative is the one that is considered the universal donor blood type, crucial in emergency situations," Brandt said. "It can be used safely in people with all other blood types. So, say a person is an accident and cannot speak for themselves to let doctors know what their blood type is, emergency medical staff know they can safely use O negative blood."

Brandt said only 7% of the population has O negative blood. She said only 3 people out of 100 donate blood, whatever their type.

"So, it is really important to get donors and why we only have a three-day supply at the moment," said Brandt. "We really need people to roll up their sleeve and donate."

The Red Cross has extended its urgent call for donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets. With influenza escalating across the country and preventing some donors from giving, and winter weather threatening to cancel blood drives, the Red Cross now has a critical shortage and urgently needs donors to restock the shelves.

Every day, the Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood donations and more than 2,600 platelet donations for patients who rely on blood to survive. Shortfalls in donations can cause delays in essential medical care for patients like 12-year-old Dagan Hawkins, according to the Red Cross.

Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in November, Dagan has required platelet and blood transfusions during his cancer treatments. "There was a time when they needed to have blood products delivered from another hospital because they were unavailable there," said Dustin Hawkins, Dagan’s father.

Donors of all blood types – especially types O positive and O negative – are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Donors living in New Hampshire can give blood or platelets at the Manchester Red Cross Blood Donation Center. For hours of operation and to make an appointment, view the Manchester Red Cross Blood Donation Center information at RedCrossBlood.org.

Upcoming blood drives

Rockingham County

Danville, Feb. 5, 2-7 p.m., Danville Community Center, 169 Main St.

Exeter, Jan. 29, noon-5 p.m., The Congregational Church in Exeter, 21 Front St.

Hampton, Jan. 24, 1-6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 525 Lafayette Road.

Hampton Falls, Feb. 8, 9-2 p.m., Hampton Falls Town Hall, 1 Drinkwater Road.

Kingston, Jan. 27, noon-5 p.m., Kingston Community Library, 2 Library Lane and Feb. 13, from 2-7 p.m., First Congregational Church, 6 Church St.

Newington, Jan. 20, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Cisco Brewers, 35 Corporate Drive and Jan. 22, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Mall at Fox Run, 50 Fox Run Road.

Newton, Jan. 29, 2-7 p.m., Newton Town Hall, 2 Town Hall Road

North Hampton, Feb. 6, 2-7 p.m., United Church of Christ, 295 Atlantic Ave.

Northwood, Jan. 22, 3-7 p.m., Coe-Brown Academy, 907 First New Hampshire Turnpike.

Portsmouth, Feb. 7, noon-5 p.m., Middle Street Baptist Church, 18 Court Street; Feb. 14, from noon-5 p.m., Portsmouth Regional Hospital, 333 Borthwick Ave., and 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Station 2, 3010 Lafayette Road.

Rye, Jan. 28, 2-7 p.m., Rye Congregational Church, 580 Washington Road.

Seabrook, Feb. 10, 1-6 p.m., Trinity United Church Parish House, 29 Main St.

Strafford County

Dover, Jan. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, 121 Broadway, noon-5 p.m., Dover Moose Hall, 45 Chestnut St.; Jan. 24, 1-6 p.m., Bill Dube Ford/Toyota, 40 Dover Point Road; 1-6 p.m., St. Johns United Methodist Church, 28 Cataract Ave.; Jan. 25, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Dover Moose Hall, 45 Chestnut St.; Jan. 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, 789 Central Ave.

Durham, Feb. 3, 4, 5 and 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., UNH Memorial Union Building.

Rochester, Jan. 24, noon-5 p.m., Frisbie Memorial Hospital, 11 Whitehall Road, and Jan. 27, noon-5 p.m., Rochester Elks Lodge, 295 Columbus Ave.

Somersworth, Feb. 7, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., American Legion Hall, 45 Washington St., and Feb. 14, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, 23 Works Way.