News Summary:

• The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage as severe winter weather further impacts the ability to rebuild the blood supply.
• The recent winter storms canceled more than 500 blood drives, resulting in about 20,000 blood and platelet donations going uncollected since January 23.
  
• More blood and platelet donors are needed now. Individuals who are not impacted by the storm are urged to give now to prevent disruptions in patient care. The Red Cross urges those in areas experiencing severe weather to give when it is safe for them to do so.

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage as winter weather further impacts the ability to rebuild the blood supply. Individuals who may be eligible are urged to give blood and platelets as soon as it is safe for them to travel to help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not delayed.

The national blood supply remains at critically low levels. Winter storms have forced the cancellation of more than 500 blood drives and about 20,000 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected since just January 23, with more cancelations expected. This is on top of the more than 400 blood drives canceled last month due to severe weather.

There’s no time to wait. Book an appointment now to give blood by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross encourages everyone to be safe, and to make an appointment to donate as soon as it is safe to travel. Those who are not impacted by the storm are urged to donate immediately.

WORKED THROUGH THE WEATHER Red Cross employees and volunteers are working hard to ensure blood is available to patients who need it, regardless of weather.

Winter Storm Gianna: As hazardous winter weather disrupted transportation across North Carolina, a Red Cross disaster volunteer helped ensure lifesaving blood continued reaching patients. When commercial couriers halted service in parts of eastern North Carolina, Mark Matthews, a volunteer with the Greater Triangle Area Chapter, stepped in to personally transport blood products from the Red Cross blood donation center in Greenville, NC, to the Durham Biomedical Manufacturing site.

Working through treacherous conditions, Matthews ensured critical blood and platelets could be processed and on to hospitals to help patients in need.

Winter Storm Fern: Red Cross volunteers Bill Casey and Don Dailey camped out at the Red Cross office in Tulsa, OK during the winter storm to be ready to remove snow and ice so that blood and platelets could be delivered to hospitals. The two slept at the office overnight on Friday, then got to work at 3 a.m. Saturday plowing the parking lots and roadways to ensure delivery of lifesaving blood.

Snow, ice and extreme temperatures can make it tougher to move vital blood products across the Red Cross network, affecting deliveries to hospitals in some locations. With more winter weather possible in the days and weeks ahead, more donors are needed as soon as it is safe for them to travel.

Read more about how the Red Cross is responding to the winter storm across multiple states.