Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
LAS VEGAS (Dec. 27, 2022) — The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada is urging residents to give blood to help ensure patients across the county have access to lifesaving blood as a massive winter storm battered much of the United States canceling more than 300 Red Cross blood drives over the past week leaving about 9,000 potential donations going uncollected.
“The severe winter weather is coming at a time of the year when the holidays and travel obligations already caused a slowdown in donations,” said Rachel Flanigan, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter. “Southern Nevadans – especially those with type O blood – are urged to give blood now. The Red Cross depends on generous volunteer blood donors every day to provide lifesaving blood for those in need, but especially during times of disaster.”
Every day the Red Cross must collect approximately 12,500 blood and nearly 3,000 platelet donations for patients, who are currently undergoing medical procedures and treatments at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide, Flanigan said.
About every two seconds in the United States, blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies, said Dr. Walter Kelley, Divisional Chief Medical Officer for the Pacific, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest Divisions of the American Red Cross. “We need blood donors more than ever at this time of year, to make sure hospitals have the blood that seriously ill children and adults will need over Christmas and the new year,” he said.
The Red Cross blood donation network has the ability to move blood around the country to ensure that everyone has access to lifesaving blood, Dr. Kelley said.
All blood types needed
It’s important that donors of all blood types − especially those with type O − give now to ensure hospitals have the blood they need through the end of the year. Type O negative is the universal blood type and is what emergency room personnel reach for in the most serious situations when there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type; and type O positive blood can be transfused to any positive blood type patient and is also critical in trauma situations.
Give blood. Here’s how
Schedule an appointment today by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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.