1,000 Units of Blood Uncollected Due To Weather/Holiday

The American Red Cross is making a plea for blood donations due to the recent string of severe, wintry weather and the holiday.

According to a Tweet from the Red Cross Wednesday 1,000 units of blood went uncollected due to the busy travel week, but also the heavy coast-to-coast winter storm.

1,000 units of blood went uncollected over the last week due to severe weather and holiday travel. Help us restock the shelves for patients in need.

— American Red Cross (@RedCross) December 4, 2019

The American Red Cross says between Thanksgiving and Christmas roughly 1 million units of blood will be needed. Donations typically go down during busy times of the year such as holidays, but the recent winter storm did not help either.

The Thanksgiving week storms were so intense because they were truly coast-to-coast events. They began in Oregon and California with a rapidly-lowering pressure, dumped snow across the Rockies and western passes, then created blizzard conditions in the Plains before finally dropping feet of snow in the Northeast. Folks stayed inside (and rightfully so!) during the storm.

Now the Red Cross needs your help making sure the blood supply stays stocked. I know, we just went through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. However, a donation such as this does not require cash or credit! It just requires health and time to go donate.

Information below for how to donate via the American Red Cross:

“All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

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.”