What you can do to help in the nations blood shortage
ALPENA, Mich. – The pandemic has greatly affected our nation’s blood supply.
Thousands of annual blood drives and events were cancelled in 2020, making it hard to collect blood.
With pandemic restrictions lifting, organizations like the American Red Cross are hoping to replenish the nations supply.
They cite a rise in postponed elective surgeries, more car accidents and other traumas, as well as an increase in organ transplants that are depleting what’s left in supply.
The Red Cross said now, the demand for supply is up 10 percent nationwide.
“The inventory that we have on hand has really plummeted to very low levels and we have to get more donors in the door and have those units available for the patients that need them,” said American Red Cross Divisional Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ross Herron.
How you can help — find your local blood donation center and register to donate.
You can also plan to hosts a drive in the area.
“If we don’t have constant donations, then we quickly will get behind the eight ball and not have enough for patients needs,” said Herron. “In fact, we’re constantly each day trying to stretch our platelet supply as much as we can.”
For anyone looking to donate, a blood drive is scheduled Friday July 16 in Alpena at Word of Life Baptist Church.
