Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 19, 2022) — As families gather for the holidays, the American Red Cross of Utah staff and volunteers at the blood donation center in Salt Lake City will be working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as the need for blood doesn’t stop, not even on Christmas.
“With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, blood donation often gets lost with all the obligations on time. This time of year, many regular donors will take a break from their normal routine and may not have a chance to donate,” said Dr. Walter Kelley, Salt Lake City-based Divisional Chief Medical Officer for the Pacific, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest Divisions of the American Red Cross. “The need for blood will never stop and the need for blood donors is real. The lives saved are real.”
In response, the Red Cross is keeping the Salt Lake City Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East, open:
“Our trusted team of Red Cross of Utah local nurses, phlebotomists, and volunteers are working on Christmas and playing a critical role in helping ensure life-saving blood is available to patients in need,” Dr. Kelley said.
Throughout the holiday season, several factors can disrupt the ability of the Red Cross to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients across the country including holiday travel, seasonal illnesses like the flu and severe winter weather, said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region.
“Even though the demand for lifes-aving blood doesn’t stop for Christmas, our supply can drop dramatically if too many donor appointments go missed or unfilled,” Ruster said. “We know that donations slump and missed appointments rise in the middle of December and the cold weather forecast could make the situation worse. So, we’re encouraging Utahns to create a new holiday tradition by giving blood around Christmas.”
About every two seconds in the United States, blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies, Dr. Kelley said. “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.
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.
Schedule an appointment today
To find upcoming blood donation opportunities, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Given the blood supply challenges the Red Cross has faced recently, Dr. Kelley said the organization is appreciative of the dedication of the blood collecting staff in Utah willing to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. “They play a vital role in ensuring that life-saving blood is safe and available,” he said. “We applaud their dedication to donors and the health and safety of patients.”
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.