Red Cross: Blood donations are needed amid summer shortage
Donations tend to decrease as fewer drives are held in school and more people travel during the summer months.
Share:
More Stories
1:30
Officials: Calls to 988 have increased since its creation 2 years ago
5ds ago1:41
Officials: COVID-19 has hit high levels in several states, including Connecticut
6ds ago2:03
Poll: More than 40% of women skip or delay medical screenings and appointments
12ds ago1:59
New Alzheimer's drug shown to reduce memory loss for some patients
19ds ago1:59
Study: Eating ultra-processed foods can shorten your lifespan
20ds ago1:29
Staying hydrated – what to drink depends on your level of physical activity, doctor says
26ds ago1:30
Officials: Calls to 988 have increased since its creation 2 years ago
5ds ago1:41
Officials: COVID-19 has hit high levels in several states, including Connecticut
6ds ago2:03
Poll: More than 40% of women skip or delay medical screenings and appointments
12ds ago1:59
New Alzheimer's drug shown to reduce memory loss for some patients
19ds ago1:59
Study: Eating ultra-processed foods can shorten your lifespan
20ds ago1:29
Staying hydrated – what to drink depends on your level of physical activity, doctor says
26ds agoRed Cross officials are urging people this summer to donate blood amid shortages.
Donations tend to decrease as fewer drives are held in school and more people travel during the summer months. Officials say last month they collected 26,000 thousand fewer donations than needed to have a healthy blood supply.
"It affects our ability to respond to medical emergencies and chronic blood conditions that require blood transfusions," says Tiffany Taylor, a Biomedical Specialist with the American Red Cross.
If blood is not easily available, elective surgeries could possibly be postponed.
The decrease also impacts people with sickle cell disease because they rely on regular blood transfusions to manage pain and prevent life-threatening complications.
While donors of all blood types are needed, Type O is the universal blood type for emergency transfusions and for immune-deficient infants.
Click here to find a blood drive nearest you.