The next scheduled Red Cross blood drive in the area is set for Saturday, April 4 at the Oak Valley Medical Plaza, 1425 W. H St., Oakdale.

Faced with an extraordinary situation, Red Cross officials remind potential donors that patients need your help immediately. The American Red Cross must address a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during the coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood.

Eligible donors are asked to give at the upcoming drive, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1425 W. H St., Oakdale.

Donating blood is a safe process and the Red Cross has implemented additional precautionary measures to help ensure donor, staff and volunteer safety during this challenging time. U.S. health officials have also urged donors to come give blood as a critical and safe thing to do now.

As of mid-March nearly 4,000 Red Cross blood drives had been canceled across the country as high schools, colleges, businesses and other organizations temporarily close and more people are told to work remotely. This has already resulted in more than 100,000 fewer blood donations, and that number continues to grow.

Without enough blood on the shelves, hospitals may have to delay essential and lifesaving surgeries for patients of all ages.

Potential donors are urged to make an appointment to donate blood now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood donors with type O blood and platelet donors are especially needed right now.

For those residents unable to attend the April 4 drive, they can also visit the North Stockton Blood Donation Center, 2888 West March Lane; the Modesto Blood Donation Center, 1900 W. Orangeburg Ave.; or the Sonora Blood Donation Center, 850 Sanguinetti Road, to make a life-saving donation. The fixed sites are open various days and times.