Red Cross Facing Blood Shortage

blood-safe-7
blood-safe-7

The American Red Cross is urging potential blood donors to come forward this month as the organization struggles witha blood supply shortage. The Red Cross told us the following:

The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood and platelet shortage that has caused the blood supply to drop to the lowest post-summer level in at least six years.

With less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks, the Red Cross asks donors of all blood types – especially type O − to make an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible to ensure patients can receive the lifesaving transfusions they rely on. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds from summer blood shortages, but a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. due to the delta variant has contributed to the lowest donor turnout of the year. To shore up inventory, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week this month to meet hospital and patient needs.

Donors are asked to make an appointment

All those who come to donate in October will receive a link by email to claim a free Zaxby’s® Signature Sandwich reward or get a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.* Plus, all those who come to give Oct. 11-31 will receive a bonus $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.**

Blood donations help those with breast cancer

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Red Cross is reminding donors of the importance of blood to those undergoing treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, roughly 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. this year, and more than 281,000 of those individuals will have breast cancer.

Patients with breast cancer and other cancers may need blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications. In fact, nearly 25% of the blood supply is used by cancer patients.

People across the country depend on the kindness of blood donors. Donors are urged to 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 (1-800-73-2767).

Blood drive safety 

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. 

Upcoming Van Buren County blood donation opportunities Oct.16-31:

Bangor

11/9/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Simpson United Methodist Church, 507 Joy St

Gobles

11/1/2021: 9:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Gobles High School, 409 North State Street, Box 1

Lawrence

10/14/2021: 12 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., Lawrence Conference Center, 490 South Paw Paw Street

Mattawan

10/22/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., St. John Bosco Parish, 23830 Front Avenue

Paw Paw

10/13/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Paw Paw Lions Club, 227 County Road 665

South Haven

10/19/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Moose Lodge 697, 1025 Wells St

11/4/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 06321 Blue Star Memorial Hwy.