American Red Cross: Summer blood and platelet donations vital to avoid blood supply impact
$15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, entry to win $7K gift card for coming to give in June
NEW JERSEY — The Atlantic hurricane season is officially underway, and the American Red Cross is urging the public to help prepare for potential disruptions in the blood supply by scheduling appointments to donate blood or platelets.
Severe summer weather and disasters like hurricanes can halt blood drives for days, quickly impacting the availability of lifesaving transfusions. The Red Cross emphasizes that even when hospitals are fully stocked, unforeseen events can cause sudden shortages.
“While many people are enjoying summer activities, we ask that blood donations remain part of their June plans,” the organization said in a statement. “Blood has a shelf life of just 42 days, so ongoing donations are essential to meet patient needs.”
Type O blood donors and those giving platelets are in especially high demand this season.
The Red Cross is also marking two important awareness dates: World Blood Donor Day on June 14 and World Sickle Cell Day on June 19. Community members are encouraged to celebrate by donating and helping maintain a steady blood supply throughout the summer.
As an added incentive, donors who give between June 1 and June 30, 2025, will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card via email and be entered for a chance to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. Terms apply. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/June for details.
How to donate:
To schedule an appointment or learn more, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or enable the Blood Donor Skill on Alexa-enabled devices. All blood types are needed.
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. High school students and donors under 19 must also meet height and weight requirements.
To save time, donors can use RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history on the same day as their appointment at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.
