Red Cross Warns of Blood Shortage, Baker City Drive Scheduled for March 23-24

The American Red Cross is calling for urgent blood donations after hospital demand pushed its supply down by roughly 35% in a single month, and Baker City residents have two days to respond: a local drive runs March 23 and 24 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane.

Red Cross officials have identified O-negative and O-positive blood types as especially critical in the current shortage. The regional organization has also flagged platelets and A-negative and B-negative blood as particularly scarce, describing the situation as a severe shortage in which requests from hospitals now exceed available supply. "Individuals are urged to give now so patients don't face delays in lifesaving care," the Red Cross stated.

Both standard whole-blood donations and Power Red donations will be accepted at the Baker City event. Power Red is a specialized collection method in which red cells are drawn while most of the donor's plasma and platelets are returned to the body. "A Power Red donation collects the red cells but returns most of the plasma and platelets to the donor," the Red Cross explains. "These donors must meet specific eligibility requirements and have type A Neg, B Neg, or O blood."

The drive runs from noon to 6 p.m. on March 23, with morning hours available the following day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 24. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Hughes Lane has hosted community collection events before, giving Baker City donors a familiar local option rather than traveling to larger population centers.

March also marks Red Cross Month nationally, lending added weight to the organization's push for new donors and lapsed donors to schedule appointments. With the two-day window at 2625 Hughes Lane now less than two weeks away, the Red Cross is asking anyone who qualifies to act before the need deepens further.