Critical Blood Shortage Continues in Valley
Morgan Hill – Faced with a serious shortage of blood, the American Red Cross is calling on donors to give blood before the shortage grows even more critical.
“There can be high demand for blood during and following the Labor Day weekend due to an increase in highway accidents with people traveling taking their final summer trips,” said Jay Winkenbach, CEO of the American Red Cross Northern California Blood Services Region. “This, combined with an expected drop in donations over the holiday, could lead to a shortage so severe that we will be scrambling to get the blood hospitals need for emergencies and they may have to postpone elective surgeries if it gets worse.”
The Red Cross provides most of the blood for more than 30 Northern California hospitals.
The local blood supply has been extremely low all summer, and the Red Cross declared an emergency appeal to donors in July, following the Fourth of July holiday. Officials are trying to avoid a similar situation following Labor Day.
The Red Cross provides most of the blood to more than 30 Northern California hospitals. The agency will be hosting several blood drives throughout the region through the end of the month.
Details: (800) GIVE-LIFE, (800) 448-3543 or go online to www.beadonor.com. To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in general good health.
