The American Red Cross says there’s an urgent need for donations of blood and platelets.
April Oppliger, Program Manager for the Mid-American Blood Services Division, says there have been 50,000 fewer donations in June than anticipated. She says that’s about half the blood supply the Red Cross had at this time last year.
Oppliger says a pint of whole blood has a shelf life of 42 days. Platelets have a shelf life of only five days, and Oppliger says those donations are always in high demand. She says donations of all blood types are needed.
More information on the need for blood donations, and who’s eligible to donate, is available at www.redcrossblood.org.