Blood providers say they need donations. (American Red Cross photo)
Local blood services are putting out a call for donations, after recent severe weather led to fewer donations. The American Red Cross is asking all eligible blood and platelet donors to help offset a weather-related shortfall in donations. Meanwhile, Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has listed blood drives in the Lake Norman area in January, including one this Thursday, Jan. 16, at Davidson College.
| CBCC BLOOD DRIVES Community Blood Center of the Carolinas blood drives in the area this month.
Info: http://cbcc.us/ |
The Red Cross said in a press release last week that approximately 280 blood drives had been canceled in 25 states because of snow and extreme cold. That has brought a shortfall of nearly 8,400 blood and platelet donations since Jan. 2, as of last week. In North Carolina, severe winter weather forced the cancellation of six Red Cross blood drives, resulting in about 200 fewer than expected blood and platelet donations as of last week.
“It’s the blood products already on the shelves that help save lives when severe weather hits,” said Steve Maness, Vice President of the Red Cross Southeast Blood Services Division. “Thanks to generous Red Cross blood and platelet donors, blood products were available for patients who still needed transfusions despite the weather. Now we invite those previously ‘frozen out’ from giving blood or platelets to come in soon.”
Platelet donors, as well as blood donors with the most in-demand blood types — O positive and negative, A negative and B negative — are urgently needed to give blood in the days and weeks ahead to offset the shortfall.
Platelets, a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, must be transfused within five days of donation, so donations are constantly needed. Red blood cells, the oxygen carrying component of blood, are the most widely transfused blood product and must be transfused within 42 days.
READY TO DONATE?
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
For information on CBCC’s blood drives, or to host a drive, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.
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