As people gather for holiday celebrations this season the American Red Cross — which provides 40 percent of the country’s blood — is facing historically low blood supply levels.

While the Red Cross consistently sees a drop in blood and platelet donations this time of year, the organization said if more donors don’t come forward to give blood, some patients requiring a transfusion may potentially face delays in care.

Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). There is no donation waiting period for those who have received a flu shot or a Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine or booster as long as they are symptom-free.   

To encourage donors to help address the historically-low blood supply this holiday season, all who come to give Dec. 17 to Jan. 2, 2021 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last.

Blood drive safety 

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions  — including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status — have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. 

Upcoming local blood donation opportunities include:

Crawford
  • Meadville:
    • Dec. 28: 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Meadville Community Center, 1034 Park Ave 
Erie
  • Erie:
    • Dec. 21: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Erie Red Cross Chapter, 4961 Pittsburgh Ave
McKean
  • Bradford:
    • Dec. 21: 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 55 North Bennett Street
Venango
  • Oil City:
    • Dec. 17: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., YMCA Oil City, YMCA Gym, 7 Petroleum Street
    • Dec. 20: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First Church of God-Oil City, 11 E 8th St,

Save time during donation

Donors can also 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, or from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass, follow the instructions HERE or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. 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 must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Health insights for donors 

The Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African-American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. 

Blood transfusion of trait-negative blood is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.    

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal HERE.  

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