Red Cross calls for new donors to prevent
a summer blood shortage
About 38 percent of the population can donate; less than 10 percent of those eligible do
6 great tips for that first blood donation this summer
(May 30, 2017) — The American Red Cross urges those who have never given blood before – as well as those who haven’t given recently – to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now and help sustain a sufficient community blood supply this summer.
While the need for blood is constant during the summer months, the Red Cross experiences a drastic decline in new donors. Nationwide, nearly one-third fewer new donors came out to give last summer than during the rest of the year. Additionally, many schools where blood drives are held – and where new donors give – are not in session, and current donors often delay giving due to summer vacation plans.
While about 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood, less than 10 percent of those eligible actually do. The blood donation process takes about an hour with the actual donation only taking about 10 minutes. Whether new to donating blood or a lifelong donor, the Red Cross offers helpful tips for an enjoyable donation experience:
1. As much as possible, eat iron-rich foods leading up to your donation.
2. Hydrate – drink an extra 16 oz. of liquid before and after the donation.
3. Have a healthy meal before the donation.
4. Wear comfortable clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.
5. Complete a RapidPass on the day of donation, prior to arriving, to save time.
6. Remember to bring a picture ID, blood donor card or two other forms of identification.
“Every day, we have thousands of lives to help save, but blood and platelet donations often do not keep pace with hospital demand during the summer months,” said Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services. “In less time than it can take to go out to eat, you can make a lifesaving difference for cancer patients, accident victims and others in need.”
Appointments can be scheduled 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:
Bountiful
5/30/2017: 11 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Intermountain Bountiful, 390 North Main St.
6/3/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saint Olaf Catholic Church, 1800 South Orchard Drive
6/15/2017: 2 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Bountiful North Stake, 1500 North 400 East
6/15/2017: 3:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Bountiful YSA Stake, 2285 South 200 West
Centerville
6/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Centerville South Stake, 270 North 300 East
Clearfield
6/12/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Clearfield City Offices, 55 South State
Fruit Heights
6/1/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fruit Heights Utah Stake, 910 South Mountain Road
Kaysville
6/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Kaysville Central Stake, 200 East Center
Layton
5/30/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/31/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Layton Hills Mall, 1201 North Hill Field Road
5/31/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Donor Center, 852 W Hill Field Road
6/1/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/1/2017: 3 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Layton Utah YSA Stake, 2025 East Antelope Drive
6/2/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/3/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/5/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/6/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/7/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/8/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/9/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/10/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/12/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/13/2017: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/14/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
6/15/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
West Point
6/1/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., West Point Lakeside Stake, 855 North 4000 West
Cottonwood Heights
6/10/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Salt Lake Cottonwood Heights Stake, 7075 South 2245 East
Draper
6/2/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Draper Utah South Mountain Stake - Traverse Point Building, 272 E Traverse Point Dr
6/7/2017: 10 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Fluent, 13937 South Sprague Lane, #200
6/12/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Bowen Collins and Assoicates, 154 East 14000 South
Midvale
5/30/2017: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Top Golf, 920 Jordan River Blvd
6/5/2017: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Junction Pizzeria & Grill, 740 W Blue Vista Lane, Unit 600
Murray
6/6/2017: 2 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murray Utah Parkway Stake - Summer Drive, 5555 South 700 West
6/13/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Millcreek Stake, 4220 S 420 E
6/14/2017: 10 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Intermountain Healthcare, 5245 South College Drive
Riverton
6/6/2017: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m., Riverton YSA Stake, 12574 South Redwood Road
6/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Riverton North Stake, 2700 West 12345 South
Salt Lake City
5/30/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
5/31/2017: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Highland High/Yearbook Day, 2166 South 1700 East
5/31/2017: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., LDS Business College - Triad Ctr, 95 North 300 West
5/31/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
5/31/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Salt Lake Emigration Stake, 680 East 2nd Avenue
6/1/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/2/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/3/2017: 9 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Cottonwood High School, 2033-2099 So. 1500 East
6/3/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/5/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/6/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/7/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South
6/7/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/8/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/8/2017: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Cannon Stake, 934 W Fremont Ave
6/9/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/10/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Saint Vincent de Paul Church, 1375 East Spring Lane
6/10/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/12/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/12/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Falls Event Center, 580 South 600 East
6/12/2017: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Smith's Marketplace, 455 So. 500 East
6/12/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mount Tabor Lutheran Church, 175 South 700 East
6/13/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/13/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Canyon Rim Stake, 3000 South 3100 East (Grace Street)
6/14/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
6/14/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Millcreek Library, 2266 East Evergreen Avenue
6/14/2017: 2:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., MasterControl, 2900 East Hollow Mill Dr. (6800 South), Mill Hollow Park
6/14/2017: 3 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Columbus Library, 2530 South 500 East
6/15/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East
South Jordan
5/30/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., LANDesk Software, 698 West 10000 South, Suite 500
South Jordan
6/2/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., South Jordan River Stake, 1249 West Country Creek Drive
6/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., South Jordan Utah Founders Park Stake, 11685 S. Kestrel Rise Road, (4510 W.)
West Jordan
6/6/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., West Jordan Utah Westland Stake- Summer Drive, 7265 S. 2700 W.
6/9/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., West Jordan Bingham Creek Stake, 8539 South 2200 West
West Valley City
6/6/2017: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Pioneer Valley Hospital, 3460 South Pioneer Parkway
6/6/2017: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Express Recovery Systems, 2790 Decker Lake Drive
6/8/2017: 7 a.m. - 12 p.m., UPS Hub, 2040 W. Parkway Blvd.
American Fork
5/31/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., North Pointe Business Park, 825 East 1180 South, Suite 300
Lehi
6/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lehi Utah Willow Park Stake, 1998 West 900 North
6/10/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lehi West Stake Eagle Crest Building, 2600 North 700 West
Orem
5/30/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
5/30/2017: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Provo Utah Young Single Adult 18th Stake, 735 E. 800 S.
5/31/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/1/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Timpanogos High School, 1450 North 200 East
6/1/2017: 11:15 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/2/2017: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/2/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Orem Utah Orchard Stake, 670 E. 800 N.
6/3/2017: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/5/2017: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/6/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/7/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/8/2017: 11:15 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/9/2017: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/10/2017: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/12/2017: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/12/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Ken Garff Honda, 195 E. University Parkway
6/13/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/14/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/15/2017: 11:15 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Orem Blood Donation Center, 384 East University Parkway
6/15/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Orem Utah Suncrest Stake, 891 West 130 North
Payson
6/8/2017: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rocky Mountain ATV, 1551 West American Way
6/13/2017: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Parkway Medical Center, 55 S. Professional Way
Pleasant Grove
6/1/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Pleasant Grove Utah Garden Stake, 745 North 600 West
Provo
5/30/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 101 West 100 North
5/30/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wilkinson Center, Wilkinson Center, BYU Campus
5/30/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Grandview Stake, 1600 North 1880 West
6/5/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wilkinson Center, Wilkinson Center, BYU Campus
6/6/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wilkinson Center, Wilkinson Center, BYU Campus
6/7/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wilkinson Center, Wilkinson Center, BYU Campus
6/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Provo Sunset Stake, 1100 West 1560 South
6/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Provo East Stake, 700 North 600 East
6/9/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wilkinson Center, Wilkinson Center, BYU Campus
6/9/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Edgemont South Stake, 2900 North Canyon Rd.
6/12/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wilkinson Center, Wilkinson Center 1 campus Dr
6/13/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wilkinson Center, Wilkinson Center, BYU Campus
6/14/2017: 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Utah County Health Department, 151 South University Ave
6/15/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Provo Stake, 1315 East 900 South
Spanish Fork
6/15/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Spanish Fork Utah East Stake, 1240 South 1185 East
6/15/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Spanish Fork Utah West Stake, 575 W 400 N
Springville
6/6/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Walker Physical Therapy, 771 West 450 South
Eden
6/2/2017: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Wolf Creek Resort, 3718 North Wolf Creek Drive
Farr West
6/8/2017: 2 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Farr West Utah Stake, 2132 West 2700 North
Harrisville
6/9/2017: 12 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., Walmart, 534 N. Harrisville Road
North Ogden
6/14/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., North Ogden City Offices, 505 East 2600 North
Ogden
6/13/2017: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Autoliv, Airport, 3350 Airport Road
Riverdale
5/31/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., America First Credit Union, 1344 West 4675 South
South Ogden
6/4/2017: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Community United Methodist Church, 163 West 4800 South
How to donate blood
Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. Those who come out to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross June 7 through World Blood Donor Day on June 14 will receive a limited-edition Nexcare Give bandage with the theme “Roll up a sleeve and give where you live,” featuring vibrant city-inspired designs reflecting landmarks and locales from around the globe. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
