CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The American Red Cross Charlotte Donor Center is extending its hours from February 20 – 28, 2014 to help restock the blood supply.
Severe winter weather forced the Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region to cancel nearly all of its blood drives February 12 – 14, resulting in more than 3,100 uncollected blood and platelet donations.
Nearly 30 blood drives were cancelled just in the Charlotte area, resulting in a shortfall of more than 900 units.
The Charlotte Donor Center is located at 2425 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28203. Extended hours:
Thursday, February 20: 1:00 p.m. β 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 21: 8:00 a.m. β 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 22: 9:00 a.m. β 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 23: 10:00 a.m. β 4:00 p.m.
Monday, February 24: 1:00 p.m. β 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 25: 1:00 p.m. β 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 26: 8:00 a.m. β 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 27: 1:00 p.m. β 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 28: 8:00 a.m. β 2:00 p.m.
Uber is making it as simple as possible for people to give the gift of life with the Red Cross.Β Through February 28, Uber is offering FREE rides to/from the Charlotte Donor Center. For more information about the Uber and Red Cross partnership, please visit http://blog.uber.com/SaveLivesFreeRides.
The ongoing winter storms and freezing temperatures nationwide have had a brutal impact on the Red Crossβ ability to collect blood so far this year. The severe weather has cancelled more than 1,500 blood drives in 34 states and Washington, D.C. since the beginning of 2014, resulting in about 50,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations. These cancellations are the equivalent of the Red Cross having to shut down its national operations for more than three full days in just a six-week period.
On average, the Red Cross must collect about 15,000 units of blood every day for patients at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. All blood types are currently needed to ensure a sufficient blood supply is available for patients.
Red blood cells, the oxygen carrying component of blood, are the most widely transfused blood product and must be transfused within 42 days. Platelets, a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, must be transfused within five days of donation, so donations are constantly needed.
