Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 4, 2022) — The American Red Cross of Utah is urging residents to give blood to help ensure patients in areas devasted by Hurricane Ian continue to have access to lifesaving blood. More than a thousand potential donations had to go uncollected in recent days as flood waters and dangerous conditions cancelled blood drives throughout Florida, making the need for donations from non-affected areas even greater.
“The widespread damage left in Hurricane Ian’s wake included blood donation centers, contributing to a blood shortage in the area,” said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. “While we don’t typically service hospitals in Florida, the Red Cross of Utah is standing by to provide additional products as needed, supporting industry partners through the AABB Task Force for Disaster Response,” Ruster said.
The task force is composed of representatives from U.S. blood services, associations, and commercial entities, as well as liaisons from governmental agencies, who work together to ensure that safe and adequate blood product inventories are always in place in preparation for disasters.
“Last week the American Red Cross sent hundreds of donated blood products to Florida to help make sure there is lifesaving blood available,” said Dr. Walter Kelley, Divisional Chief Medical Officer for the Pacific, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest Divisions of the American Red Cross. “The Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, and fortunately, we have the ability to move blood around the country whenever and wherever it is needs most.”
Utahns – 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,” Dr. Kelley said. “By choosing to give now, you will be helping people in Florida in need of emergency lifesaving care or transfusions for medical treatment, while also helping to boost the future blood supply.”
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.