American Red Cross Warns of a Looming Blood Shortage

Published: August 5, 2015 By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

During the summer months, the American Red Cross and other blood banks see a sharp decline in the amount of donors at their blood drives. On average during the summer months, about two fewer donors give blood at each Red Cross drive than what is needed. It if for this reason that the American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors to pitch in an help prevent a blood shortage.

Right now donors with types AB, O negative, B negative and A negative are especially encouraged to donate. Plasma from type AB donors and type O negative blood can be transfused to patients of any blood type. Type B negative and A negative blood can be transfused to Rh-positive or negative patients. These are the blood types that are in highest demand.

Patients are constantly in need of donations and the American Red Cross wants to ensure blood is available for each and every one of those people. You can assist three individuals with just one donation and the process itself takes less than an hour. Local drives are happening all the time, just this month a few are scheduled for the area.

• In Hanna on Saturday, August 15 from 8 am until noon a drive will be held at the Hanna United Methodist Church.
• That same Saturday from 10 am until 2 pm a blood drive is scheduled in Hamlet at the Starke County 4-H Fairgrounds.
• On Wednesday, August 19 there will be a drive hosted by the Knights of Columbus from 11:30 am until 5:30 pm in Winamac.
• On Tuesday, August 25 Oregon-Davis High School will have a blood drive from 8 am until 1:30 pm.
• On Thursday, August 27 from 8 am until 2 pm Culver High School has a drive scheduled.

If none of these dates or times fit into your schedule, at anytime you can enter your zip code into the Red Cross website to find a drive near you. Overall blood donations in the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region have been approximately 1,500 fewer per month in June and July this year than the previous 10 months of the year. Change the trajectory for the month of August by making a donation and thank you in advance for helping to prevent an emergency shortage. Visit redcrossblood.org for more information or call 1-800-RED CROSS. There are less than 40 days left of summer, make them count by making a difference.