Red Cross winter blood shortage reaches critical level
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 3:46 am NASHVILLE -- Ongoing severe winter weather has more than doubled the number of canceled American Red Cross blood drives and the resulting blood and platelet donation shortfall since earlier this month. The Red Cross now considers the situation critical and is reissuing an urgent call for blood and platelet donors. More than 550 blood drives have been forced to cancel due to winter weather in January, causing over 16,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected through last week. In the Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region, which includes middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, 54 blood drives have been forced to cancel due to winter weather this month, causing 1,470 donations to go uncollected. In addition, bitter cold and widespread flu have contributed to very low turnout at many blood drives. "Blood and platelet donations are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in," said Tiffany Taylor, external communications manager of the local Red Cross Blood Services Region "Donors are critically needed to restock the shelves for patients in their community as well as areas where donors are unable to give due to inclement weather." Every day, no matter the weather, the Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations to meet the needs of patients like Finnegan "Finn" Olson. Last January, Finn was born with a rare heart condition. He required multiple transfusions before, during and after heart transplant surgery last summer. Transfusions had an almost immediate effect on his personality and skin's appearance. "Each time Finn received a transfusion, you could see him pink up right away and have significantly more energy," said his mother, Ali Olson. "We credit blood donation with making Finn stronger and helping keep him alive long enough to receive a new heart. Finn is living proof that blood helps save lives." Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 23 to Feb. 15 Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace Bowling Green, KY 42103 Graves Gilbert Medical Clinic, 201 Park St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 McMinnville Civic Center, 500 Garfield St. Mc Minnville, TN 37110 Manchester Recreation Complex, 557 N. Woodland St. Manchester,TN 37349 First Baptist Church, 1006 Hillsboro Road Manchester, TN 37355 Motlow State Community College Lynchburg, 6015 Ledford Mill Road Tullahoma, TN 37388 First Christian Church Annex, 201 N.W. Atlantic Tullahoma, TN 37388 Belvidere Mennonite Church, 9805 David Crockett Parkway, W. Belvidere, TN 37306 How to donate blood Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App. About the American Red Cross
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