Red Cross Needs Blood and Platelet Donations

(Undated) — The American Red Cross is issuing a “severe blood shortage” warning after the national blood supply fell about 35% over the past month. They say that with a nationwide flu outbreak and winter weather, the problem could worsen without immediate blood donor action. The Red Cross says while blood and platelet donations for all blood types are needed, just 7% of the U.S. population has Type-O Negative blood, which can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what hospital staff reaches for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type. Find more information and to schedule your donation appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.