(NAPSI)—The American Red Cross has declared a severe blood shortage after the national supply fell by about 35% in the past month—a crisis fueled by a surge in flu cases and winter storms disrupting blood drives. Hospitals already strained by flu-related admissions are now being forced to triage critical blood products, putting trauma victims, mothers in childbirth, and patients with cancer or sickle cell disease at serious risk.
“After the holiday distractions, we enter flu season—a time when Hispanics face a higher risk of hospitalization due to limited access to healthcare,” says Dr. Maribel García Colón, Medical Director at the American Red Cross. “At the same time, winter weather leads to more accidents where a person may require an emergency transfusion. This is where Hispanics can make a difference: 60% of this population has type O blood, the most commonly used blood type in emergencies when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type. By donating blood, we give others the chance to live.”
Last month alone, nearly 400 blood drives were canceled due to severe winter weather, leaving thousands of donations uncollected. With more storms forecast, the situation could worsen without immediate donor action.
“Thanks to blood donations, Valerio is celebrating his sixth birthday.”
Having just turned six, Valerio has overcome health challenges that rival those faced by the superheroes he admires. Born with a rare congenital condition affecting the left side of the heart—Valerio’s doctors told his mother, Liliana, that he would need multiple heart surgeries to survive.
The first of four open-heart surgeries took place just one week after his birth. Blood transfusions were critical to the success of each procedure. “If he hadn’t received the blood he needed during surgery—and the platelets afterward—Valerio wouldn’t have recovered so quickly,” says Liliana.
She vividly remembers the fear of imagining what might happen if blood hadn’t been available. “Blood donations have shaped the course of our family’s life. My son is resilient and faces everything with courage, but none of this would be possible without the generosity of blood donors.”
How You Can Help
There’s no time to wait. Book an appointment now to give blood or platelets by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). All blood types are needed, especially O, A negative, and B negative.
Special Thank-You
Those who donate by January 25 will be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. From January 26–February 28, donors will also receive a $20 e-gift card. Learn more at RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.
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"People who donate blood to the American Red Cross by January 25 will be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. From January 26–February 28, donors will also receive a $20 e-gift card. Learn more at RedCross"
