The American Red Cross Is In Desperate Need Of Donations

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as flu numbers grow.

The shortage is especially serious for platelets as well as blood types O, A-negative, and B-negative. Don Hawkins, the Regional Communications Manager for the Red Cross Central and Southern Ohio Region, says over the last month, they’ve seen their numbers drop by about 35 percent.

“There’s a whole slew of things that are coming together for kind of a perfect storm situation here. The flu, it’s one of the worst flu seasons we’ve seen in the past few decades, travel, holiday sickness. In general, folks get sick over the holidays and if you can’t give blood around the holidays, now is when we’re seeing the impact of that because the blood donations do take; there’s that lack. Whenever a drop in donations happens, the shortage will happen a couple weeks later. ”

Hawkins says now through January 25th, if you donate blood, you will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of tickets to the Super Bowl.

“You should want to give blood because it’s going to make a massive impact on someone’s life. I think about the folks who have had emergency situations and needed blood to keep them alive; they are still here because of the generosity of strangers,” says Hawkins.

“Think about the folks that have normal treatments that need a transfusion for something, and if the blood isn’t there for them, whenever they need that transfusion, that treatment has to wait. No person should have to wait for a treatment because the supply is too weak to make sure we have it on hand.”

If you are interested in donating blood or would like more information, please visit the Red Cross’s website.