Red Cross urges blood donations ahead of July 4 holiday as type O blood supplies run low
NEW JERSEY — With the busy Fourth of July holiday week approaching, the American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to make and keep appointments to donate blood or platelets to help maintain the blood supply through mid-summer.
While all blood types are needed, officials say donors with type O blood are especially critical. Type O negative blood is used in emergencies when there’s no time to match a patient’s blood type, while type O positive is the most common blood type and vital for people with chronic illnesses or sudden, life-threatening conditions.
“Making and keeping donation appointments now is critical to ensuring blood products are available for all patients — including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions — in the weeks to come,” the Red Cross said in a statement.
As part of a July promotion, all donors who give between July 1 and July 14 will receive a pair of exclusive Red Cross x goodr sunglasses, while supplies last. Donors can personalize their shades with a blood type sticker. Those who give by June 30 will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card by email and be entered to win one of two $7,000 gift cards.
Appointments can be made at RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App or by enabling the Blood Donor Skill on Alexa devices.
Donors must present ID and meet eligibility requirements, including minimum age, weight and general health standards. RapidPass® is available to speed up the donation process by allowing donors to complete pre-donation reading and health history online on the day of their appointment.
