Red Cross seeks donations after blood drives canceled
After recent extreme winter weather forced cancellations of hundreds of American Red Cross blood drives, the agency is urging healthy individuals to make an appointment to donate.
During recent snow and ice storms, the Red Cross has canceled blood drives in about 30 states. The Red Cross said the canceled appointments would’ve accounted for more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations.
In Connecticut alone, more than 480 donations were uncollected and at least 15 blood drives canceled across the state in just the last week.
Red Cross officials are asking healthy individuals, especially those with type O blood, to donate as soon as possible.
Appointments can be made on the Red Cross blood donor smartphone applications, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 800-733-2767.
The Red Cross said it is also testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies.
The test can indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced coronavirus antibodies, even if the person didn’t have virus symptoms. The test is meant to help identify individuals who could help current virus patients in need of plasma transfusions to combat the virus. The results can take a week or two.
Anyone feeling sick, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, is urged to postpone their donation.
Every Red Cross blood drive and donation center features temperature checks, social distancing and required face coverings.
The following are blood drives over the next month:
BETHEL
Feb. 22: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road
March 5: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road
BRIDGEPORT
Feb. 24: 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Ave.
Feb. 27: 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., McGivney Community Center, 338 Stillman St.
March 9: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Ave.
March 11: 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Bridgeport Hospital, 200 Mill Hill Ave.
BROOKFIELD
Feb. 24: 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Brookfield High School, 45 Long Meadow Hill Road
DANBURY
March 2: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Danbury Fair Mall, 7 Backus Ave.
March 8: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ethan Allen Hotel, 21 Lake Ave. Extension
March 8: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ethan Allen Hotel, 21 Lake Ave. Extension
March 9: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Danbury Fair Mall, 7 Backus Ave.
March 11: 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Gethsemane Baptist Church International, 8 Delay St.
EASTON
Feb. 25: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Road
FAIRFIELD
Feb. 23: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Scandinavian Club, 1351 South Pine Creek Road
March 3: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Scandinavian Club, 1351 South Pine Creek Road
March 8: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Black Rock Church, 3685 Black Rock Turnpike
March 8: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Black Rock Church, 3685 Black Rock Turnpike
MONROE
Feb. 27: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Beacon Hill Evangelical Free Church, 371 Old Zoar Road
NEW CANAAN March 9: 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saint Mark’s Church, 111 Oenoke Ridge Road
NEWTOWN
Feb. 26: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
March 11: 1:30 p.m to 6 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
March 12: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
NORWALK
Feb. 23: 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., St. Philip’s Church, 25 France St.
March 3: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., St. Philip’s Church, 25 France St.
March 12: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Ave.
RIDGEFIELD
March 4: 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Center, 195 Danbury Road
March 8: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Center, 195 Danbury Road
SHELTON
March 5: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Shelton Community Center, 41 Church St.
SHERMAN
March 6: 7:30 a.m. to noon, Sherman Volunteer Fire Department, 1 Route 39
STAMFORD
March 1: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road
March 2: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hilton Stamford Hotel, 1 First Stamford Place
March 6: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Holy Spirit Church, 403 Scofieldtown Road
March 13: 7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Ave.
March 15: 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bedford St.
TRUMBULL
Feb. 25: 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Westfield Trumbull, 5055 Main St.
Feb. 26: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Insports Centers, 29 Trefoil Drive
March 2: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 White Plains Road
March 6: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Stephen's Church, 6948 Main St.
March 12: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Insports Centers, 29 Trefoil Drive
WESTPORT
Feb. 26: Noon to 5 p.m., Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 75 Church Lane
March 11: Noon to 5 p.m., VFW, 465 Riverside Ave.
March 12: Noon to 5 p.m., Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 75 Church Lane
WILTON
Feb. 25: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Our Lady of Fatima Church, 229 Danbury Road