Red Cross Puts Out Call for Summertime Blood Donations

The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give blood in the weeks surrounding Independence Day to help ensure a sufficient blood supply now and throughout the summer.

“We typically do see our numbers go down in the summer months because people go on vacation and they’re not making their summer appointments to donate,” said American Red Cross spokesperson Kristen Stancil.

To encourage more people to donate around Independence Day, all those who come out to donate blood July 2-6, 2015, will receive a Red Cross embroidered hat, while supplies last.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days and platelets can be given safely every two weeks, up to 24 times a year.

But the Red Cross also has a program that allows certain donors to give twice as much.

Stancil says a donor with certain blood types can give two pints of red cells at once through an automated process.

She said the two pints of red cells are collected while your plasma and platelets are returned to you.

“If you have types O Negative, B Negative, or A Negative, you may be able to donate double red cells,” Stancil said. “It does take a little bit longer to donate a double pint of blood. Usually it takes about an hour to donate a pint, but for a double red, it takes about an hour and a half.”

Also needed are blood platelets, which Stancil said provide much needed help for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Most healthy people age 17 and older, or age 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets.

Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

To get more information on ways to donate blood or platelets, you can visit the Red Cross web site at www.redcrossblood.org.