Red Cross Issues An Urgent Call for Blood Donors

The American Red Cross issues an urgent call for blood donors. The busy summer need for blood coupled with fewer blood drives because the July 4th holiday fell in the middle of the week, leaves the supply dangerously low. Here's when and where you can help at a blood drive in Central New York.

The Red Cross says there were 15-thousand fewer donations than needed last week. The biggest need is type O blood and platelet donors. Type O is the most in-demand blood type and often the first to be depleted from hospital shelves during a shortage. You can donate at the Utica Blood Donation Center on Commercial Drive anytime rather than wait for a drive. Through July, they're open Monday & Wednesday: 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday:  7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Here are some upcoming blood Drives:

Herkimer County
Dolgeville 7/24/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Dolgeville Fire Department,
Herkimer 7/12/2018: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Herkimer Veterans of Foreign Wars
Ilion 7/14/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Municipal Building,
Mohawk 7/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Blessed Sacrament Church
Van Hornesville 7/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Owen D Young School

Oneida County
Barneveld 7/13/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Town of Trenton Municipal Center,
Camden 7/9/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Camden Methodist Church
Clinton 7/12/2018: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Schilling Burns Young VFW
New Hartford
7/12/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., THRIVE Athletic Center, 8387 Seneca Turnpike
7/16/2018: New Hartford Public Library 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
7/25/2018: Sitrin Community Center 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Rome
7/20/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Rome Memorial Hospital
7/23/2018: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lowes
7/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St John's Lutheran Church

Utica 7/16/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Kids Oneida, 310 Main Street
Waterville 7/16/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Waterville Village Hall
Westmoreland 7/21/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Westmoreland Fire Department

Otsego County
Oneonta
7/18/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Fox Care, 1 Fox Care Drive
7/18/2018: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Holiday Inn, 5206 State Highway 23
7/24/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Country Club Auto, 55 Oneida Street
7/25/2018: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street

Richfield Springs
7/9/2018: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Richfield Springs Community Center, Walnut Street

If you're short on time you can schedule an appointment through the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, online at Red Cross Blood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. There's even Rapid Pass online health history questionnaire to reduce the time it takes to donate.

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