(UNDATED) – During times of inclement weather, road conditions and power outages often result in the cancellation of blood drives and a shortfall of blood and platelet donations
Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana the American Red Cross encourages eligible blood and platelet donors to make an appointment to give once it is considered safe to travel, or for those in unaffected areas, to make an appointment to give as soon as possible to help restock the blood supply.
More than 20 Red Cross blood drives have already been canceled resulting in more than 700 uncollected blood and platelet donations as a result of inclement weather and the impending storms, and more are expected in the coming days.
The Red Cross must collect more than 2,600 platelets and nearly 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.
“Even when we have cold weather conditions or snow and ice storms, patients are still in the hospital needing blood,” said Cyndi Dahl, regional donor services executive of the Red Cross River Valley Blood Services Region. “We urge all eligible donors to schedule an appointment to roll up a sleeve in the coming days and weeks when conditions improve or as soon as possible if you’re in unaffected areas. It’s the blood products already on the shelves that help save lives and ensure medical treatments are not canceled when severe weather hits.”
Donors who come to give in February will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card thanks to a $1 million donation from Amazon.
Eligible donors are asked to make an appointment to give blood or platelets before the approaching storm or in the days following, once it is safe to do so.
To schedule an appointment to donate, please use the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
