The American Red Cross said on Monday it is facing a blood shortage emergency. Blood donations nationwide dropped off sharply in June, a problem that’s exacerbated by a higher-than-expected need for blood in hospitals during “the summer trauma season” when injuries with treatments that require blood hit their highest levels.
“All blood types are needed. This shortage is especially serious for types O positive and B negative blood, as well as AB plasma,” the Red Cross said in a news release. “Without immediate action, patients who rely on transfusions — including trauma patients, mothers in childbirth, and those with sickle cell disease or cancer — face serious risk.”
The Red Cross has partnered with Fandango to encourage donations during this shortage. Throughout the rest of the month, anyone who donates blood through the Red Cross will get a discount of up to $15 on movie tickets purchased via Fandango’s site or app. (Discounts must be used before the end of the year, and certain restrictions apply.)
Blood donation drives have been scheduled across the state this month.
Benton County
Belle Plaine — Wednesday, July 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Belle Plaine High School (610 13th Ave)
Black Hawk County
Cedar Falls — Wednesday, July 15, noon-5 p.m., Nazareth Lutheran Church (7401 University Ave); Thursday, July 23, 1-6 p.m., Community Center (528 Main St) and Thursday, July 30, noon-5 p.m., Nielsen Field House (1400 W 19th St)
Evansdale — Tuesday, July 14, noon-5 p.m., AMVETS Post 31 (706 Colleen Ave)
Waterloo — Monday, July 20, noon-5 p.m., Waterloo Blood Donation Center (2530 University Ave) and Friday, July 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Waterloo Blood Donation Center (2530 University Ave)
Bremer County
Sumner — Tuesday, July 14, noon-5 p.m., Skilled Nursing Building (915 W 1st St)
Buchanan County
Fairbank — Friday, July 17, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., United Methodist Church (107 2nd St N)
Independence — Monday, July 27, 12:30-5:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church (115 6th Ave NW)
Butler County
Aplington — Thursday, July 23, noon-5 p.m., First Reformed Church (905 Caldwell)
Shell Rock — Friday, July 31, noon-5 p.m., Boyd Building (303 Cherry St)
Chickasaw County
Fredericksburg — Thursday, July 16, 1-6 p.m., Municipal Hall (151 W Main St)
Clayton County
Edgewood — Tuesday, July 21, 12:30-6 p.m., St. Mark’s Parish Center, 200 Jackson
Elkader — Wednesday, July 29, noon-5 p.m., St Joseph’s Catholic Church (330 S 1st St)
Garnavillo — Thursday, July 30, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Community Center (106 W Niagara St)
Delaware County
Manchester — Wednesday, July 22, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Delaware County Fairgrounds (200 East Acers)
Fayette County
Oelwein — Friday, July 24, noon-5 p.m., Antioch Christian Church (531 8th Ave NE)
Grundy County
Dike — Friday, July 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Dike Memorial Building (540 Main St)
Reinbeck — Tuesday, July 28, 1-6 p.m., Memorial Building (208 Broad St)
Jackson County
Preston — Wednesday, July 22, 1-6 p.m., Preston Town Hall (102 W Gillet St)
Johnson County
Coralville — Tuesday, July 28, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., the Summit of Coralville (3 Russell Slade Blvd)
Iowa City — Friday, July 24, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Big Grove Brewery (1225 S Gilbert St) and Friday, July 31, 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Iowa City Public Library (123 South Linn St)
Linn County
Cedar Rapids — Wednesday, July 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Country Inn & Suites by Radisson (9100 Atlantic Dr SW); Monday, July 20, noon-5 p.m., Human Services Building (317 7th Ave. SE) and Friday, July 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Big Grove Brewery (170 1st St SW)
Hiawatha — Wednesday, July 15, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., American Legion Post 735 (207 Robins Rd) and Monday, July 27, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., American Legion Post 735
Tama County
Tama — Wednesday, July 29, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Meskwaki Casino (1504 305th St)
Winneshiek County
Calmar — Thursday, July 16, 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., PIVO Brewery and Blepta Studios (101 Huber Dr)
Woodbury County
Sioux City — Wednesday, July 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Northwest IA Red Cross Chapter (401 Douglas St)
