Donations Urgently Needed as National Blood Shortage Continues
Roll up a sleeve to help ensure patients have access to timely care.
Roll up a sleeve to help ensure patients have access to timely care.
DETROIT (Oct. 4, 2023) – The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood shortage and asks the public to schedule appointments to give blood. To ensure the blood supply recovers, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet the needs of hospitals and patients in Michigan and across the country.
Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially platelet donors and type O blood donors. A person in a single car accident can require as much as 100 units of blood, said Barry Siegfried, M.D., medical director of the Red Cross Michigan Region.
“When blood and platelet supplies drop to critical levels, it makes hospitals and their patients vulnerable, especially if there is a major accident or an emergency medical procedure that requires large quantities of blood,” Dr. Siegfried said. “We’re asking donors across Michigan to help us keep hospital shelves stocked with blood products and help ensure patients have access to the timely care they deserve.”
The Red Cross offers three ways to make an appointment to donate:
In late summer, the Red Cross national blood supply dropped by about 25 percent on the heels of one of the busiest travel seasons and the beginning of back-to-school activities. As people settle back into fall school and work routines, a unique challenge to the blood supply remains – many employees continue to work from home or in a hybrid capacity, reducing the number of opportunities to give blood at business-sponsored blood drives.
These factors, coupled with an active disaster season, are creating a perfect “storm” and challenging the organization’s ability to collect a sufficient amount of blood products to meet the needs of hospitals and patients.
Those who donate by Oct. 20 will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card by email. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Together for details.
Donors who give between Oct. 21 and Nov. 9 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a restaurant merchant of their choice and enjoy lunch on the Red Cross. They also will be automatically entered to win a $5,000 gift card. There will be three lucky winners, with one winner randomly selected each week. Learn more at RedCrossBlood.org/lunch.
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MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz / david.olejarz@redcross.org / 313-303-0606
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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.