PITTSBURGH — The Red Cross is in urgent need of blood donors and is issuing a call for more help.
According to a press release shared by the Red Cross on Friday, the organization has witnessed a sharp drop in donors over the past few weeks.
A spokesperson said donors make up 90% of the Red Cross’s blood supply. They have lost several thousand units of blood in just a week. They said this is happening at a crucial time in the year, with the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day containing a high volume of car accidents, ATV accidents and sports-related injuries.
The Red Cross cited triple AAA, saying that fatal car crashes go up by 30% during this time, which is otherwise known as the “100 deadliest days.”
Oftentimes, a single unit of blood can be a matter of life and death.
“Every minute matters. For each minute that passes without blood transfusion, the risk of death increases by 11% for patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock. That’s why having a readily available blood supply is critical,” Dr. Emily Coberly, medical director for the Red Cross, said.
In response to the shortage, the Red Cross is offering an initiative of a $15 e-gift card to anyone who donates blood between June 1 and 28.
If you would like to donate, you can schedule an appointment online by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. The Red Cross also has an app, which can be used to schedule appointments.
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