02/15/2019
The American Red Cross is experiencing constrained supplies of critical blood products and today issued an urgent appeal for blood and platelet donors. While winter is home to festive holidays and celebration, winter can also cause significant reductions in blood donations and inventory levels. Factors such as holiday travel, busy schedules, and cold weather conditions have kept many donors from scheduling blood and platelet donation appointments. Blood collection activities of the American Red Cross and other blood centers have been adversely impacted this season, resulting in lower-than-normal blood and platelet donations and blood drives.
Ensuring an adequate supply for patients all winter long is our highest priority, and we will continue to do all we can to inspire donors to act and give blood. Effective today, the Red Cross augmented its existing recruitment activities by issuing a national media appeal highlighting an immediate need for blood donations and calling on generous blood and platelet donors to give now. This effort will enhance our already scheduled blood drives and recruitment strategies surrounding National Blood Donor Month in January.
