It’s spring season, and the American Red Cross is encouraging the community to celebrate by making a lifesaving blood or platelet donation. Officials say it’s critically important that people come give in the days and weeks ahead to maintain a readily available blood supply.
“Covid-19 has started to slow, at the same time, our blood supply remains vulnerable.”
Alicia Door is the Regional Communications Manager for the Michigan Region of the American Red Cross. She says while they are grateful for all those that have come forward thus far, they still need people to donate blood, so they can remain prepared for an emergency. Right now, she says they only have a 3-to-4 day supply but want to get it up to 5.
“Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. That could be someone in a car accident or with chronic illness or cancer. So those needs, need to be met so we want to get that blood supply up to that 5-day period. So that we know all of those needs will be met. And that way hospitals won’t have to make any life-threatening decisions.”
Door says one blood donation can save up to three lives. She adds, donors and potential donors can make an appointment to give on their website at RedCrossBlood.org.
