The Red Cross urges you to help

The American Red Cross is urging you to take action now to help offset the severe impact of recent winter storms on efforts to rebuild the blood supply during an ongoing blood shortage. 

Over 500 blood drives have been canceled since the beginning of the year, causing more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. In addition to the disruption of blood drives, dangerous weather conditions have also made it tougher to transport vital blood products, which could potentially affect deliveries to hospitals in some locations.  

Shortfalls in blood and platelet donations caused by recent winter storms are putting further strain on the national blood supply, forcing some hospitals to cancel elective procedures due to blood product shortages. When supplies are critically low, trauma surgeons and other doctors face the real possibility that blood could run out when it’s needed most. Now is the time to give blood or platelets before doctors have to face difficult decisions about which patients can safely move forward with treatment, and who will need to wait.

Donors of all blood types are asked to make a blood or platelet donation appointment as soon as possible. Two blood drives will be held this week in the area. The first will be held Thursday (Feb. 5) from 9:00 to 3:00 at Sauk County Public Health in Baraboo.

The second will be held Friday from Noon to 5:00 at St. Anthony & Philip Parish in Highland. Book an appointment to give now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Those in areas facing extreme winter weather are asked to give when it’s safe to do so.

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