The Red Cross Cascades Region is urging people to roll up their sleeves and give blood or platelets in the days ahead after back-to-back winter storms forced the cancellation of more than 70 drives, which resulted in the loss of nearly 2,100 units of blood.
The American Red Cross in Oregon and Washington has had difficulty resupplying blood collection sites because of road closures and icy conditions, forcing cancellations of blood drives across both states. Additionally, hosted blood drives were cancelled as school districts and businesses closed due to inclement weather. Placing an already vulnerable inventory at critical levels.
“This weather impact comes as we are already in the midst of an emergency blood shortage,” says Angel Montes, Blood Services Executive, Red Cross Cascades Region, “and winter isn’t over yet.”
Every day, the Red Cross must collect approximately 12,500 blood and nearly 3,000 platelet donations for patients who are currently undergoing medical procedures and treatments, at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.
All eligible donors are urgently needed to help restock the shelves for these hospital patients.
Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).