Red Cross encourages blood and platelet donations

FALLBROOK – As the American Red Cross responds to wildfires and historic hurricanes, eligible donors are reminded that giving blood during National Preparedness Month in September is one way to help ensure the Red Cross is prepared to respond to patient emergencies across the country every day.

The American Red Cross will be holding a community blood drive, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sept. 28 at Ivy Oasis High School, 1056 Winterhaven Road, in Fallbrook.

Hurricane Irma has forced the cancellation of dozens of Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast, resulting in more than 2,100 uncollected blood and platelet donations. Natural disasters like hurricanes can disrupt blood drives and prevent donors from giving, but hospital patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions. Volunteer blood and platelet donors are the only source for blood products needed by hospital patients.

Individuals in parts of the country unaffected by Hurricane Irma are encouraged to give blood or platelets to help ensure a sufficient blood supply. All blood types are currently needed.

Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting http://www.redcrossblood.org or calling (800) 733-2767. To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and use RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questions online on the day of their donation from a computer or mobile device at http://www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass.

As a thank-you, those who come to donate blood or platelets through Sept. 30 will receive a coupon for a free haircut at participating Sport Clips locations. More information is available at http://www.redcrossblood.org/sport-clips.