Record-breaking cold and winter storms across much of the U.S. have had a significant impact on blood and platelet donations. The American Red Cross is urging healthy individuals, especially those with type O blood, to give now to ensure blood products are available for patient emergencies when help can’t wait.
A blood drive is scheduled for 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Otto Township Fire Hall in Duke Center.
In March, four drives are scheduled in Elk County: March 9, 2 to 6:30 p.m., Fox Township Senior Center in Kersey; March 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Moose Club Lodge, St. Marys; March 11, 1 to 6 p.m., Weedville Wesleyan Church; and March 12, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Ridgway Central Hose Company.
Extreme winter weather has forced the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives in about 30 states and caused more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.
Every day thousands of patients rely on lifesaving blood donations. The need for blood is constant, even during snowstorms and the COVID-19 pandemic. To help ensure lifesaving patient care isn’t impacted, individuals are urged to make appointments to donate in the coming days and weeks by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
