Red Cross: Blood emergency to be instituted Monday

Chris Lueneburg by Chris Lueneburg

Due to low inventory levels, the Red Cross will initiate a blood emergency on Monday, urging donors to give blood to make up for shortages.

According to a Red Cross representative, the month of July commonly sees fewer donations around Independence Day. This year, the need for blood is outweighing the amount of donations coming in.

The drop in donations could see consequences including doctors being forced to delay surgeries.

The Red Cross representative said that the organization is in need of about 15,000 donations. It could take 500 blood drives to fulfill that goal.

For those who are in need of blood or have loved ones who are, blood donations can make an enormous impact.

“My dad, received quite a few blood donations when he was in the hospital. He had leukemia,” said Allison Larson, a blood donor who heard about the shortage. “So, [this is] the little thing I can do to give back to the people who gave blood to him.”

Once the blood emergency begins, the Red Cross will increase efforts to promote blood drives.

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