American Red Cross Experiencing Blood Shortage

ZANESVILLE, OH – The American Red Cross is experiencing a blood shortage.

Due to the heat, storms and the aftermath of Hurricane Debby the Red Cross is asking you to consider donating blood.

Don Hawkins, the Regional Communications Manager with the American Red Cross Central and Southern Region, said summer is already a difficult time to try to collect blood and this summer was no different.

“We’ve lost a lot of blood drives to weather, whether it was storms, whether it was excessive heat, there’s so many factors that have been in play,” Hawkins explained. “That have caused delayed blood drives, canceled blood drives, and all these things that have hindered our ability to keep a strong supply on the shelves.”

Hawkins said with the heat we experienced last week here in Ohio, they had to cancel a few blood drives because of safety concerns. If you sign up for a drive and it does get canceled, for any reason, you will be notified of that change.

“If you visit redcrossblood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-REDCROSS, you’ll get an up to date list on all of our blood drives,” Hawkins said. “Whenever a drive gets canceled, you’ll get a notification, if you’ve already signed up for an appointment, you’re going to get a notification from the automatic system. They’ll tell you “Hey, this drive’s been canceled and it will link you back to reschedule and find a drive close to you that can fit your schedule, so you can get in and give blood.”

If you are interested in donating blood or for more information, you can head to redcrossblood.org.