Critical type O blood shortage: Red Cross urgently needs donors
There are two opportunities to donate blood in New Canaan during the month of February. In addition, see the list below of places in Fairfield County featuring blood drives.
- 2/10/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Canaan Fire Department, 60 Main St
- 2/7/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Canaan Library, 151 Main Street
The American Red Cross has extended its urgent call for donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets. With influenza escalating across the country and preventing some donors from giving, and winter weather threatening to cancel blood drives, the Red Cross now has a critical shortage of type O blood and urgently needs donors to restock the shelves.
Currently, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O blood available for patient emergencies and medical treatments. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type and can be given to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. While just 7% of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, it can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what hospital staff reach for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type.
Donors of all blood types – especially types O positive and O negative – are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Bethel
1/23/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ability Beyond, 4 Berkshire Blvd.
2/1/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bethel United Methodist Church, 141 Greenwood Avenue
Bridgeport
2/11/2020: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., University of Bridgeport Student Center, 244 University Avenue
2/3/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Congregation B'nai Israel, 2710 Park Avenue
Brookfield
1/21/2020: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m., Raymour & Flanigan, 14 Candlewood Lake Road
2/11/2020: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m., Raymour & Flanigan, 14 Candlewood Lake Road
Danbury
1/20/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Danbury Fire Department, 19 New Street
1/24/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Portuguese Cultural Club, 65 Sand Pit Rd.
1/30/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hampton Inn Danbury, 81 Newtown Road
2/4/2020: 11:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Western Connecticut State University Westside Campus Center, Westside Campus, Lake Ave.
2/5/2020: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Danbury Hospital RSM, 24 Hospital Avenue
2/5/2020: 11:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Western CT State University, 181 White Street
2/6/2020: 11:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Western CT State University, 181 White Street
Darien
2/11/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Congregational Church of Darien, 14 Brookside Road
2/6/2020: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Darien Library, 1441 Post Road
Easton
2/14/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Road
Fairfield
1/22/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Thomas Braun Orthodontics, 427 Stillson Road Suite 12
1/24/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Baptist Church, 300 North Benson Road
1/31/2020: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 841 Old Post Road
2/11/2020: 11 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Fairfield University Student Center, 1073 North Benson Road
2/12/2020: 11 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road
2/13/2020: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 661 Old Post Road
2/4/2020: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Whole Foods, 350 Grasmere Avenue
Greenwich
1/27/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., YMCA of Greenwich, 50 East Putnam Avenue
1/28/2020: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Road
2/12/2020: 11:15 a.m. - 5 p.m., Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road
2/3/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Temple Sholom, 300 East Putnam Avenue
New Canaan
2/10/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Canaan Fire Department, 60 Main St
2/7/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Canaan Library, 151 Main Street
Norwalk
2/11/2020: 11 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Norwalk Community College, 188 Richards Avenue
2/14/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Norwalk Hospital, 34 Maple Street
2/6/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Avalon - East Norwalk, 8 Norden Place
Ridgefield
2/13/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Ridgefield Park & Recreation Center, 195 Danbury Rd.
2/15/2020: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ridgefield Supply, 29 Prospect Street
Shelton
2/10/2020: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., R.D.Scinto, 2 Corporate Drive
Stamford
1/23/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Upper Deck Fitness- Stamford, 72 Camp Ave
1/25/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Avenue
1/26/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Agudath Sholom synagogue, 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue
2/1/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Tully Health Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Court
2/2/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 1035 Newfield Avenue
2/8/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Tully Health Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Court
Stratford
1/23/2020: 1:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 2000 Main Street
Trumbull
1/24/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Long Hill Baptist Church, 100 Middlebrooks Avenue
2/1/2020: 7:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Spring Meadows, 6949 Main Street
2/11/2020: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Maefair Health Care Center, 21 Maefair Ct
Wilton
2/14/2020: 9:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., YMCA, 404 Danbury Road
How to donate blood
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.