FROM STAFF REPORTS

On June 11, the American Red Cross launched its Missing Types campaign to raise awareness for lifesaving blood donations and urge the public to make an appointment to give blood or platelets this summer.

During the Missing Types campaign, the letters A, B and O – the letters representing the main blood groups – are disappearing from brands, social media pages, signs and websites to illustrate the critical role blood donors play in helping patients. When the letters A, B and O vanish from everyday life, the gaps are striking. And when A, B, O and AB blood types go missing from hospital shelves, patient care and medical treatments are affected.

Blood transfusion is the fourth most common inpatient hospital procedure in the U.S. Blood can only come from volunteer blood donors, yet only 3 out of 100 people in the U.S. give blood. That’s simply not enough to help patients who need transfusions.

“Just last month, the Red Cross experienced a critical shortage of type O blood. When this happens, medical procedures could be delayed because blood products are not available,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “That’s why we are asking those eligible to help fill the missing types by making a donation appointment today. Don’t wait for the letters A, B and O to go missing from hospital shelves again.”

Donors can help fill the missing types by making an appointment to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/MissingTypes, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Shelby County:

-June 14: Noon – 5 p.m., AlabasterCity Hall, 1953 Municipal Way

-June 14: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 15: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 16: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 17: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 18: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 19: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Point at Oak Mountain, 1 Stonecrest Drive

-June 19: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 21: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 21: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., 119 Health and Wellness, 7191 Cahaba Valley Road

-June 22: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 23: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 24: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 25: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 25: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pelham Rec Center, 2020 Ballpark Road

-June 25: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Summer Classics, 3140 Pelham Pkwy, #600

-June 26: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 28: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 29: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-June 30: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-July 1: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-July 2: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Walmart Alabaster, 630 Colonial Promenade Pkwy

-July 2: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-July 3: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-July 5: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-July 6: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

-July 6: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hope for Accreta, 11101 Shelby County 47