The American Red Cross is still under urgent blood supply crisis: Donors needed
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The American Red Cross still says there is a significant shortage of blood supply. They’ve been doing blood drives every day of the week to get more palettes to save lives.
“I think any chance you get, get out and give,” said Becky Graham, a Member of Rich Pond Baptist Church.
This is the second time ever American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis and the lowest count of blood palettes received.
They announced in early July that there was a 25 percent drop in the national blood supply, hitting a four-year summer low. The summer, also known as trauma season, is a time where blood is needed most due to the incline in traumatic injuries in the warmer months.
Now that fall is here, blood banks are still at a shortage, asking for more people to donate.
“Most recently, in regard to the critical state that we’re in across this county for the need for blood, it’s never been worse than it is right now,” Vicki Darnell, a volunteer with the American Red Cross and member of Rich Pond Baptist Church said.
Darnell said the time to donate blood is now. Thursday, 40 donors signed up at the Rich Pond Baptist Church blood drive.
She said a friend with health issues spoke to her about having low hemoglobin levels. She then went on to say, her friend was questioned before receiving blood at a doctor’s office.
“They asked her ‘do you really need this second unit of blood? Because we have such a critical shortage, and that if you are feeling better with the first unit of blood, we will save this second unit of blood and give it to someone else.’ That is unprecedented,” Darnell said.
She’s not the only donor who had a personal reason to save a life by giving blood.
“I’ve been donating since I was in college. I just think that it’s really important for a community to give when they can. I know when my mom was sick, she needed a lot of blood and so I’ve always been a supporter of it and I try to give every time,” Graham said.
The American Red Cross said blood types like type O positive, B negative and AB plasma are desperately needed.
Since late July, the organization has been limiting the amount of blood type O blood to hospitals, forcing patients to wait for blood transfusions and possibly increasing longer hospital stays resulting in higher medical bills.
She urges people to jump into action and help those in need. “I know what other surgeries and stuff people need blood all the time and I know there’s a big shortage right now. So, I think anyone who can give should try to come out and give,” Graham said.
If you would like to donate, you can head to their website and click donate or give blood.
