The American Red Cross is in urgent need of blood donations, with 21,000 fewer blood and platelet donations made nationwide in September and October, officials said.
There have been fewer blood drives in the last several months and several drives were canceled in communities impacted by Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael.
“In the southern region, 568 donations need to happen each day to get Georgia back to normal levels,” said Ronnika McFall, communications manager for the American Red Cross in Atlanta. “We also need to have 167 blood drives scheduled between now and February.
McFall said the Red Cross is reaching out to blood drive sponsors and regular donors -- their “Winter Heroes.” The Red Cross is offering new incentives to get people to donate blood -- including T-shirt and Amazon gift card giveaways at local blood drives.
“When we don’t have enough blood, hospital patients are affected, and surgeries can be postponed, which can be a life or death issue,” McFall said.
While the Red Cross does not quantify how many people are helped by one donation, up to three patients can benefit, McFall said.
During the holiday season, many people think to volunteer at community shelters or food drives and many don’t even think about the gift of a blood donation.
“The biggest reason we don’t see people give … many people just don’t think about it, unless someone in their family is affected and in need of blood,” McFall said. “And, many people
She said her eyes were opened to the impact of blood donation after her uncle was in a motorcycle accident and required several pints of blood to survive.
“People donated blood in order for him to live, that’s a powerful gift,” McFall said.
Donors can now access the American Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to make an appointment.
All types are needed, but especially universal donors with O+ and O- blood.
High school students 17 and up can donate.
The Red Cross is also in need of transportation specialist volunteers to deliver blood to area hospitals.
