Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The American Red Cross announced an emergency blood shortage on July 13. Despite thousands of individuals stepping forward to help, the situation has escalated into a blood supply CRISIS. For just the second time in our history, the Red Cross has issued a national blood CRISIS. Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening this summer’s emergency shortage. A blood supply crisis is the most extreme blood shortage, posing a concerning risk to patient care. Doctors will be forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more blood products become available.
We need your help now so that hospital patients can continue to receive the transfusions they need. All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially dire for type O blood as the Red Cross is now limiting distribution of these blood products to hospitals. The type O positive blood supply has fallen below a one-day supply. Blood donors are needed immediately to ensure hospitals have the blood they need for patients whose lives depend on transfusions. If just three more donors came to every blood drive over the next month, we could stabilize the nation’s blood supply.
You can help the Red Cross overcome this shortage:
- Make sure all appointment slots are filled (especially Power Red slots) as Red Cells are desperately needed!
- Use the attached social media graphics, to encourage friends, family members and your social networks to make an appointment to donate blood in the coming days and weeks.
- If you are a member of a local community organization, please consider sharing an email message with the group encouraging them to give now.
- People can donate their time, voice, and/or blood to help us share the importance and impact that blood has!
All presenting donors for the month of August will receive a $20 amazon e-gift card!!!
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