Red Cross trying to catch up on blood donations cancelled by weather

Posted on March 26, 2017
The American Red Cross is trying to make up an estimated 8,500 donations nationwide cancelled this month by winter weather. (Photo Flickr/ejk)

By Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – Winter weather has reduced blood donations nationwide, and the American Red Cross is asking for help to make up the shortfall.

The Red Cross said severe weather in some parts of the country cancelled about 250 of the agency’s blood drives this month, which resulted in more than 8,500 potential donations left uncollected. Laura McGuire of the Red Cross said you don’t have to live in the affected areas to help.

“Just because your area might not need blood products, we are so advanced with our blood system that we are able to shift blood throughout the United States to where it’s needed,” McGuire said.

The Red Cross said the cancelled drives exacerbated an already-heavy need for blood and plasma donations.

“In the United States, somebody needs blood about every two seconds,” McGuire explained. “I can’t think of a better way to start your day than by donating blood and knowing that you’re helping to save lives.”

McGuire added that the heaviest needs are for platelets due to their short storage life, O negative blood because it’s a universal type and AB because it’s the universal plasma type.

Blood drives and appointments are available through the free Blood Donor app, redcrossblood.org and 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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