Barbara Wooten listens to instructions from Keith Mayberry with the American Red Cross as he collects her blood donation at First Baptist Church in Seymour in 2020.
Lori McDonald | The Tribune
Stephanie Newcomb, left, of the Seymour Police Department donates blood during the John Burkhart Memorial Blood Drive at Seymour City Hall in 2020. Preparing to take her blood is Brandi Baker with Versiti Blood Center of Indiana.
Lori McDonald | The Tribune
Phlebotomists Courtney Proffitt, left, and E. Hernandez work at the American Red Cross blood drive at First Baptist Church in Seymour in 2020.
Despite ongoing appeals to donors and the public, the American Red Cross emergency blood and platelet shortage continues, and the current blood supply is the lowest the Red Cross has seen this time of year in more than a decade.
With Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaching, the Red Cross urges donors to continue to make and keep appointments now and in the weeks ahead to help overcome the ongoing emergency blood shortage that has significantly impacted the nation’s blood supply.
Since declaring an emergency need for donors last month, thousands of people have come to Red Cross blood drives across the country to roll up a sleeve and help patients who are counting on lifesaving transfusions.
“The Red Cross is incredibly grateful for the kindness and generosity of these blood donors, but hospital demand remains strong,” said LaMar Holliday, regional communications director for the American Red Cross Indiana Region. “At least 10,000 more donations are needed each week in the coming weeks to meet patient needs ahead of the upcoming holiday season, which always presents seasonal challenges to blood collection.”
Thousands have answered the call to give, but additional donors are needed as the busy holiday season approaches, and donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to give now to help meet the needs of patients.
“COVID-19 and the uptick of surgeries and procedures have created this ongoing emergency blood and platelet shortage,” Holliday said. “Hospital demand for blood remains strong as we need at least 10,000 more donations each week to meet patients’ needs.”
Blood and platelets are for cancer treatments, surgeries, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries.
“We want to remind donors that one donation can save up to three lives,” Holliday said. “One hour of time can make a lifetime difference for a patient. We encourage everyone to schedule an appointment at redcrossblood.org.”
In honor of the new series I Know What You Did Last Summer, those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma between Nov. 1 and 12 will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video.
Additionally, anyone who gives between Nov. 1 and 23 will receive a $10 amazon.com gift card by email, thanks to Amazon.
Donors also can save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass. With RapidPass, donors complete the predonation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation or from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass, follow the instructions at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in, according to redcross.org.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions, including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status, have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance.