Community Corner

Blood Supplies at Emergency Levels, Red Cross Calls for Donors

The organization has had a shortfall of 50,000 donations this month.

With a shortfall of 50,000 donations so far in June, blood shortages have reached emergency levels, and American Red Cross officials are calling for all eligible donors to give as soon as possible.

The shortfall has left the Red Cross with half the readily available blood products on hand now compared to this time last year, and donations are particularly needed from people with O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative blood types.

“Blood must be available at a moment's notice when seconds count to help save or sustain a life,” said Donna M. Morrissey, director of communications for the American Red Cross Blood Services's Northeast Division. “We have reached an emergency situation and the blood will not be there without the immediate response of volunteer blood donors.”

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Red Cross officials said a number of factors may have played into the decrease in donations this month, including donors getting a head start with the early spring, and the midweek Fourth of July holiday, which they said has reduced the number of blood drives because of extended vacations around the holiday.

But the need hasn't gone down—roughly every two seconds, a patient in the United States needs a blood transfusion, according to Red Cross statistics. Blood and platelets are used in various treatments, including accidents and burns, heart surgery, organ transplants, complications during childbirth and for patients receiving treatment for cancer or sickle cell disease.

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“The Red Cross relies upon generous blood donors so we can supply blood when and where it is needed,” Morrissey said. “Right now, patients in hospitals across the country need you to roll up your sleeve and give the gift of lifesaving blood.”

To reach its goal, officials said the Red Cross is adding emergency blood drives and extending blood drive hours and scheduled drives.

RThe Red Cross also maintains a list of additional blood drives online.


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