There is a significant shortage of blood this time of year. Did you know in the next hour, 1,800 people will need blood in the United States. And another 1,800 the following 60 minutes. That is 43,200 people in one day who need blood. Donating blood saves lives.
The American Red Cross is having two blood drives in the Hood River/Bingen area this Tuesday. Please donate as you could help save a life. The blood drives are:
Tue, Dec 17, 2019, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Waucoma Building, 902 Wasco St, Hood River, OR 97031 OR
Tue, Dec 17, 2019, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Insitu Eagle Point, 901 E Columbia River Way, Bingen, WA 98605
Can't make it to the blood drive this week? Good news, there are a multiple Hood River and Columbia Gorge area blood donation opportunities later in December 2019 and January 2020.
Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 10:00am - 3:00pm, White Salmon Elks Club, 77 Wauna Ave, White Salmon WA 98605
Wed, Jan 8, 2020, 12:30pm - 6:30pm, St Peter's Parish, 1222 W 10th St, The Dalles, OR 97058
Thu, Jan 9, 2020, 9:00am - 2:30pm, Bonneville Lock and Dam, Cascade Locks, OR 97014
Tue, Jan 28, 2020, 1:00pm - 6:00pm, Oregon National Guard Armory, 12th & Belmont, Hood River, OR 97031
Tue, Jan 28, 2020, 12:30pm - 6:30pm, Ft Dalles Readiness Center, 402 E Scenic Dr, The Dalles, OR 97058
Wed, Jan 29, 2020, 12:30 - 6:00pm, 7th Day Adventist Comm Svc Bldg, 531 E Tohomish, White Salmon, WA 97058
To donate blood, you can sign-up here. Input your Zip Code in the Blue or Red box where indicated. Then follow the steps to sign up and donate blood.
Here are some facts about blood needs and why your donation is important:
Facts about blood needs (from the American Red Cross website)
- Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
- Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.
- Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
- Nearly 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
- The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
- The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
- The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
- It is estimated that sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.
- According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.69 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
- A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
