American Red Cross in Desperate Need of Blood Donations

Wednesday, January 12th, 2022 -- 9:01 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) The American Red Cross is once again appealing for donors, amid an historic nationwide blood shortage.

Laura McGuire with the Red Cross Wisconsin Region says for a variety of reasons, the number of donors is down about ten percent.“Unfortunately what’s happening right now is that it’s going out to our hospitals faster than it’s coming in the door.”

McGuire says blood donations take about an hour and can be done safely. “So don’t be afraid to do that. We’ve got great staff that coach you through the process.”

McGuire continued, “We cannot stockpile blood, it does have an expiration date. So it might seem like the Red Cross is always out there looking for blood, and that’s because there’s a constant need. Blood goes out the door every single day, and it comes n the door every single day.”

McGuire also said, “Doctors really have been forced to make some really difficult decisions as to who gets transfusions and who doesn’t. And we never want it to get that way. We at the Red Cross always want to have blood on the shelves for people who need it, and where they need it.”

Donations take about an hour and can be done safely, although the Red Cross does ask that you delay donating if you’ve had COVID exposure or a positive test. Register online at Red Cross blood dot-org.

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