Blood donors needed as record breaking heat
disrupts blood drives nationwide;Those who come to give
blood in August will receive a $20
Amazon.com Gift Card
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross faces an emergency
blood shortage after its national blood inventory plummeted more
than 25% in July. This summer's record setting heat is a
significant contributor to recent blood collection challenges
impacting more than 100 blood drives in the last month — in nearly
every state where the Red Cross collects blood — further
compounding other typical seasonal obstacles to blood donation,
such as vacation travel and summer activities.
Meanwhile, hospital demand for lifesaving blood products has
remained constant — rapidly drawing down the blood supply.
The Red Cross is working with hospitals around the clock to meet
the blood needs of patients. However, due to the supply of type O
blood being so low, the organization has had to reduce
distributions of this vital blood type in recent weeks to below
hospital comfort levels.
"Having type O blood products readily available is vital to
providing timely and lifesaving care to patients in need," said Dr.
Baia Lasky, division chief medical
officer for the Red Cross. "In fact, for a patient suffering
massive blood loss, like an individual in a car accident or a mom
experiencing a severe postpartum hemorrhage, group O is the most
commonly transfused blood type. For trauma patients, each minute of
delay can increase the chance of death by 5%. More than a quarter
of all blood products each year are used in critical care and
emergency room situations — those transfusions are only available
because of the generosity of blood and platelet donors."
Don't wait — the Red Cross asks the country to roll up a
sleeve to help ensure people receive the care they need. Make an
appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using
the Red Cross Blood Donor App,
visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767).
All types are needed now, especially types O positive and O
negative, as well as platelet donations, to help reverse this
national blood shortage. If there is not an immediate opportunity
available to donate, donors are asked to make an appointment in the
days and weeks ahead to ensure the Red Cross can replenish and
maintain a sufficient blood supply.
Continued threats to a stable blood
supply
Effects of the ongoing climate crisis continue to threaten the
blood supply in the days and weeks ahead. Just in the last couple
of weeks, rolling heat waves across the country have impacted
millions of Americans, further limiting blood donor turnout to
drives. Additionally, August is the start of peak Atlantic
hurricane season, which experts have predicted to be an "extremely
active" season, as evident by Hurricane Debby forecasted to cause
widespread flooding, power outages and travel hazards which could
result in additional blood drive cancellations and lower donor
turnout, threatening an already low blood supply.
The Red Cross also continues to face the fewest number of people
donating blood in the past two decades. When fewer people donate
blood, even small disruptions to the nation's supply are hard to
overcome. More individuals are needed to donate now to help
patients counting on lifesaving blood following accidents, during
surgeries and for treatment of conditions such as sickle cell
disease and cancer.
Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled and can only be made
available through the kindness of volunteer donors. It's the blood
on the shelves now that helps during an emergency.
Everything can change in an instant
"Before my accident, the notion of blood donation was an
abstract concept. It's not abstract anymore. Now, it's
absolute."
Mark Munson of Maine survived the unimaginable. For decades,
he has been a motorcyclist, riding throughout New England. It's a
responsibility he took seriously, always wearing a helmet and
prioritizing safety. But a year ago, Munson was struck head-on by
an SUV just four miles from his home. He was immediately rushed to
the emergency room to treat multiple broken bones and severe
internal bleeding caused by the accident. In the fight to save his
life, Munson received seven units of blood– five packed red blood
cells and two units of fresh frozen plasma.
Today, he's fully recovered and shares how blood products helped
save his life, "It undoubtedly saved my life. And if it had not
been there, we would not be having this conversation. I know that
now firsthand."
Special Thank You to Those Who Come to Give
The Red Cross is thanking those who come to donate in August
with a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by
email. See rcblood.org/Help.
About Blood Donation
A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of
identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17
years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed
by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good
health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and
other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain
height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation
by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation
reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of
their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started,
follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use
the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to
victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood;
teaches skills that save lives; distributes international
humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their
families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on
volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its
mission. For more information, please
visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org,
or follow us on social media.
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SOURCE American Red Cross