Share

Red Cross has need for blood, platelet donations

An enthusiastic crowd of donors stopped by the Costick Center Thursday to help the American Red Cross beef up its blood supply.

Advertisement

In November and December, there were about 1,700 fewer blood drives held than in the previous two months, according to a Red Cross news release. In addition to winter bringing busy holiday schedules for many regular donors, severe winter weather can cancel blood drives, and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, may cause donors to be temporarily unable to give.

Hale urges you to make an appointment to donate. “Every two seconds a patient in the US needs blood”.

Shanahan says the American Red Cross sends blood donated in Great Falls to several places across the Treasure State, including Havre, Helena, and Missoula. Volunteer blood donors are the primary source of blood used for transfusions, and the blood must be there before it is needed in order to help save lives. As an organization powered nearly exclusively by volunteerism and the generosity of donors, the 134-year-old Red Cross depends on more than 340,000 volunteers across the country to fulfill its mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies. Through the “Dunkin’ Donors Make a Difference” campaign, all those who give blood or platelets in January at Red Cross blood drives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and parts of NY will receive a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. High school students and those under 18 must meet additional height and weight requirements.

There will be a bloodmobile in Port Clinton at 10:30 to 4:30 p.m January 22 at Magruder Hospital, 615 Fulton St.

Advertisement

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. Third St.

Red Cross Needs Your Blood