Winter storm season has arrived with much of the country experiencing heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures, canceling hundreds of blood drives as the nation faces an emergency blood shortage.
Since the start of the month, approximately 265 Red Cross blood drives across 27 states have been canceled due to winter weather, causing more than 8,000 lifesaving blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. Meteorologists have warned that this extreme weather stretches from coast to coast with more impact predicted this week.
This severe weather impact comes as the Red Cross is already in the midst of an emergency blood shortage, with donations going out to hospitals faster than they are coming in. Weather related blood drive cancellations could seriously hinder efforts to rebuild the blood supply by preventing willing donors from traveling to blood drives and donation centers.
To help ensure patients continue to have access to lifesaving blood products, the Red Cross urges individuals in unaffected areas to pitch in and schedule an appointment to give blood to help meet all patient needs across the country. Visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-Red Cross.
