There is a significant and urgent shortage of blood due to cancellations from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 a blood drive in Hood River this week. Please donate as you could help save a life. The blood drive is:
Tue, April 7, 2020, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Insitu Waucoma Building, 902 Wasco St, Hood River, OR 97031
Wed, April 8, 2020, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Insitu Waucoma Building, 902 Wasco St, Hood River, OR 97031
To support social distancing, appointments are now required. The American Red Cross is working hard to open new blood donation sites to make up for the thousands of blood donation site cancellations.
The two Hood River blood drives this week are collecting Power Red donations only. This is a concentrated dose of red cells, the part of your blood used every day for those needing blood transfusions. This donation utilizes an automated process which separates your red blood cells from your other blood components, and then safely returns your plasma and platelets to your body.
Donations of O positive, O negative, A negative, and B negative Power Red are the only appointments available.
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.
Can't make it to the blood drive in Hood River this week? Good news, there are other Columbia Gorge area blood donation opportunities coming up. All will require an appointment until further notice
Mon, Apr 27, 2020, 12:00pm - 5:00pm, St Peters Parish, 1222 W 10th St, The Dalles, OR 97058
Wed, May 19, 2020, 1:pm - 6:pm, LDS - Dalles Ward, May & 18th St, Hood River, OR 97031
Tue, May 26, 2020, 12:30am - 6:30pm, Ft Dalles Readiness Center, 402 E Scenic Dr, The Dalles, OR 97058
Wed, Jun 10, 2020, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Insitu Waucoma Building, 902 Wasco St, Hood River, OR 97031
Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 11:30am - 5:30pm, St Peters Parish, 1222 W 10th St, The Dalles, OR 97058
Thu, Jul 9, 2020, 9:00am - 2:30pm, Bonnieville Lock and Dam, Cascade Locks, OR 97014
Wed, Jul 15, 2020, 1:00pm - 6:00pm, Hood River Valley Christian Church, 975 Indian Creek Rd, Hood River, OR
Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Insitu Waucoma Building, 902 Wasco St, Hood River, OR 97031
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.
