Red Cross hoping to rebuild blood supply after disastrous January
DALLAS - The American Red Cross needs help rebuilding its blood supply after a difficult month where donations were impacted by the winter weather, wildfires, and the flu season.
Blood donations drop in January
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The Red Cross said thousands of blood donations were canceled in January.
"Since the beginning of the year, hundreds of blood drives have been canceled and more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected due to severe winter weather and wildfires," the organization said in a news release. "As February continues, so does the potential for additional weather systems to disrupt blood drives."
Flu and other winter illnesses often force people to cancel their scheduled appointments this time of year.
All of this combined has impacted the nation’s blood supply.
North Texas’ supply of O- and B- blood is critically low
Carter BloodCare is urging people to donate blood, adding that some blood types are in very short supply right now.
What you can do:
The Red Coss is encouraging people to step up their donations in February to help rebuild the supply.
As a way of saying thank you, the organization will give all February donors a $15 e-gift card to the merchant of their choice.
Appointments can be made online or through the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
For more details or a list of upcoming blood drives, visit www.redcrossblood.org.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a news release from the American Red Cross.