Our region is feeling the effects of a nationwideblood supply shortage and the American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors to give blood.
"Over the past three months the Penn-Jersey region has seen 36,000 less donations than usual," said Nancy W. Taylor,account executive for the American Red Cross Blood Service'sPenn-Jersey Blood Services Region. "Please ask your family and friends to donate now."
The Red Cross has a goal of having a five-day supply of blood for hospitals. They're having a hard time keeping up with demand this summer thanks in part to vacations and fears of the Zika virus.The Red Cross continues to use additional safety measures to protect the blood supply from Zika virus and other mosquito-borne viruses. As part of their current health screening process, they are asking if the donor has traveled to an area affected by Zika. The Red Crossonly collects blood from donors who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation.
"Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations," said Beth Toll of the Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region. "Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks."
How to Help Your Community
Doylestown Hospital will host an American Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, July 12 from 6:30 am to 5 pm in Conference Room J.
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.
How Blood Donations Help
The American Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood supply and provides blood for patients in about 2,600 hospitals – including Doylestown Hospital – across the U.S. Most of the blood donations given to the Red Cross are collected at blood drives set up at community organizations, companies, schools, places of worship and military installations.
Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
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