A blood shortage is prompting the Red Cross to issue an urgent call for blood and platelet donations. January is National Blood Donor Month and the organization needs donors of all blood types to make an appointment to help address a winter blood donation shortage.
Kristen Stancil is Communications Manager with the Red Cross. She says severe weather has forced blood drive cancellations during an already difficult time of year.
"We definitely see a number of factors that contribute to fewer donations this time of year. The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now to help us address a winter blood donation shortage, that could affect patient care. We usually see our blood donations decline during the winter months. It really does start around the holidays, when people are busy. So we did see our donations decline. And now with inclement weather and seasonal illness, we do have a need for people to come in and give now," said Stancil.
In the Southern Blood Services Region, which covers Georgia and parts of Florida and South Carolina, 12 blood drives were forced to cancel due to last week’s winter storm, causing nearly 250 donations to go uncollected.
While all types of blood are urgently needed, there is a critical need for Platelets, Types O negative, B positive, and Type AB.
For more information or to make an appointment to donate: visit redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or use the free Blood Donor App.