American Red Cross blood donations needed

LODI — 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)

Upcoming blood donation opportunities at Hutchins Square Community Center, 125 S. Hutchins St. in Lodi:

• Today: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Jan. 29: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Feb. 5: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Feb. 12: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

There will also be an opportunity Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lodi Memorial Hospital, 975 S. Fairmont Ave., Lodi