The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage and must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month for the blood supply to recover and meet hospital and patient needs.
Donors of all blood types – especially type O – donors are urged to make an appointment to give now and in the weeks ahead to overcome this current shortage.
Blood donor turnout has reached the lowest levels of the year as many delayed giving amid a return to the workplace and in-person learning, as well as a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the country due to the delta variant. As cases spiked in August, blood donor participation decreased about 10%, but blood product distributions to hospitals have remained strong, significantly outpacing blood donations in recent weeks.
The national Red Cross blood inventory is the lowest it’s been at this time of year since 2015, with less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
(Check availability here
)
Kennebec County
10/1/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., MaineGeneral Health, 35 Medical Center Parkway
10/5/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kennebec Valley YMCA, 31 Union Street
9/27/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Augusta Elks, 397 Civic Center Drive, P.O. Box 2206
Belgrade
10/2/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Belgrade Center for All Seasons, 1 Center Drive
Hallowell
10/8/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Quirk Ford of Augusta, 7 Water St
Waterville
10/8/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Waterville Elks, 76 Industrial Street
Winthrop
10/7/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saint Francis Church, 130 Route 133
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Somerset County
Fairfield
10/14/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Fairfield Community Center, 61 Water Street
9/29/2021: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kennebec Valley Community College, 92 Western Ave
Jackman
10/6/2021: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saint Anthonys, Main Street, Route 201
Madison
10/11/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., VFW, 58 Preble Avenue
10/7/2021: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Calvary Pentecostal Church, 160 Old Point Avenue
Skowhegan
10/14/2021: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., New Horizons Community Church, 31 East Madison Road
9/29/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Steelworkers Union Hall, 653 Waterville Rd
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Knox County
10/15/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Owls Head Community Building, 224 Ash Point Drive
Rockland
10/8/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Oceanside Middle School, 47 Valley Street
Rockport
10/5/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., YMCA, 116 Union St
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Lincoln County
Alna
10/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Alna Fire Station, 1579 Alna Road
Boothbay
10/7/2021: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., YMCA, 261 Townsend Avenue, Route 27
Waldoboro
10/15/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Waldoboro VFW Hall, 50 Mill Street
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Sagadahoc County
Bath
9/30/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., YMCA, 303 Centre Street
Phippsburg
10/2/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Phippsburg Fire and Rescue, 1060 Main Road
Topsham
10/12/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., ARC Mid Coast Chapter, 16 Community Way
9/28/2021: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., American Legion Post 202, 79 Foreside Road
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Farmington
10/13/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Living Waters Assembly of God, 547 Wilton Road
9/30/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 612 Farmington Falls Rd.
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Waldo County
Belfast
10/9/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Quirk Ford, 244 Main Street
9/30/2021: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Belfast United Methodist Church, 23 Mill Lane
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Local blood drive locations and times are always available here.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App. To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that 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 must meet certain height and weight requirements.
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