Red Cross Issues Emergency Appeal for Blood

Original reporting by Brittany Tressler

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood and platelet donors of all blood types, after a 10 percent reduction in June donations.

“We are counting on generous volunteer blood and platelet donors to step up and give now,” said Brigid O’Neill LaGier, Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region.  “Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.  Each day donations come up short, less blood is available for these patients in need.”

According to the organization, there were roughly 50,000 fewer  donations than expected in June, which also occurred last June, due to donors adjusting to summer schedules.

Additionally, high school and college blood drives account for nearly 20 percent of the Red Cross donations during the school year, and that drops off by 80 percent when school is out for the summer.

The Red Cross is particularly requesting donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood; O negative is universal; A and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.

Platelet donors are also needed; the process takes around 2.5 hours, during which donated blood is passed through a cell-separating machine, collecting specific blood components, and then returned to the donor.

Many patients in need of platelets are undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplant and have a weak immune system, according to the Red Cross.

The following blood drives are being held locally.  For more information, click here.

July 12

St. Basil's Roman Catholic Church, 2300 Kimberton Rd., Kimberton

July 15

RSMO Pottstown, 99 Robinson St., Pottstown

July 22

St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, 2101 Pottstown Pike

July 27

Dunkin Donuts, 1495 E High St., Pottstown