American Red Cross seeking blood donations during shortage

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — The American Red Cross is experiencing a nation-wide blood shortage and is looking for donations.

The organization says they need donations from all blood types, but specifically from type O and those giving platelets.

“To ensure the blood supply recovers, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet hospital and patient needs,” Red Cross said in a press release.

The organization will be giving out $15 Amazon gift cards to those who give blood between October 1 and October 20.

Red Cross is holding blood drives around North Georgia soon to help combat this shortage.

Those locations and times are as follows.

Dalton 

• September 28 – 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Carpet Capital Association of Realtors.

Rome

• September 28 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Shorter University.
• October 3 – 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Westminister Presbyterian Church.

Cedartown

• October 2 – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. – First Baptist Church, 144 Essex St.

Chatsworth

• October 6 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Murray County High School.

Fairmount 

• October 16 – 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Fairmount Community Center.

Calhoun

• October 19 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Gordon Central High School.