Red Cross blood shortage prompts urgent call for blood and platelet donations during National Blood Donor Month

SAN DIEGO COUNTY – During National Blood Donor Month in January, the American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors of all blood types to make an appointment to give now and help address a winter blood donation shortage.

An upcoming blood donation opportunity is available in Fallbrook, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Jan. 23, at the Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Road.

Severe winter weather has had a tremendous impact on blood donations already this year, with more than 150 blood drives forced to cancel causing over 5,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. Also, seasonal illnesses, such as the flu, and hectic holiday schedules collectively contribute to more than 28,000 fewer donations than what was needed in November and December.

“Even temporary disruptions to blood and platelet donations can diminish the availability for hospital patients,” Clifford Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Blood Services, said. “It’s the blood on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency and that’s why we’re asking eligible individuals to make an appointment to give blood or platelets today.”

While serving local hospitals is the first priority, the Red Cross can move blood products to where they’re needed most. This flexibility allows generous donors throughout the country to contribute to the national blood supply and potentially help patients locally and in storm-affected areas.

While all blood types are urgently needed, there is a more critical need for the following blood and donation types: platelets, type O negative, type B negative and type AB.

Platelets are the clotting portion of blood primarily given to cancer patients during treatment and are always in great demand.

Type O negative is the blood type that can be transfused to almost everyone and is what doctors reach for in trauma situations. Type B negative is the blood type that can be transfused to type B Rh-positive and negative patients. Type AB is the plasma type that can be transfused to almost everyone and can be donated through a platelet or plasma donation, where available, or during a regular blood donation.

To help, eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting http://www.redcrossblood.org or calling (800) 733-2767. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the predonation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, by visiting http://www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass from the convenience of a mobile device or computer or through the Blood Donor App.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood – a need that was all too real for Heather Hrouda and her family. Hrouda was 25 weeks pregnant with her fourth child when she began bleeding. An emergency cesarean section was performed, but Hrouda hemorrhaged during surgery. She received 14 units of blood and seven units of plasma before her and her newborn son, Rusher, were flown to a nearby hospital. There, she received additional transfusions, and Rusher was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit, where he also received a blood transfusion to increase his red blood cell count.

“My family and I are so thankful for all the blood donors,” Hrouda said. “It is safe to say that without their time and donations, Rusher and I would not be here today. Because of donors, I get to watch my kids grow up and become the adults they dream of being.”

The Hroudas are just two examples of the many patients who depend on blood and platelet donors. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood to save their lives. The Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country.