Donations requested amid nationwide blood shortage

Five blood drives are scheduled in the Mon Valley in the next month.

The American Red Cross declared a nationwide emergency blood shortage Monday, citing a 25% drop of blood supply across the U.S.

According to Nicole Roschella, Red Cross regional communications director, August has always been a hard month for blood supplies due to natural disasters and Americans traveling for their final summer vacations.

“It’s a very easy process, but not everybody does it who is eligible. We encourage people to do that because that’s the blood that’s going to help save lives,” Roschella said. “We can’t stockpile blood and wait for a rainy day. It needs to be used within 42 days of that donation.”

Blood donated to the Red Cross is sent directly to hospitals and is needed for transfusions and surgeries. According to Roschella, the Red Cross is in high need of type O positive and O negative blood, but still encourages people with other types to donate.

“If doctors don’t have enough blood at their hospital, they may need to postpone elective surgeries or procedures,” Roschella said. “Of course, that’s nothing you would want to see your loved ones go through, your family or let alone any patient who’s in the hospital.”

Anyone wanting to donate blood in the Mon Valley can go to www.redcrossblood. org and type in a zip code to see their options. The website will provide some screening questions to determine if you’re eligible to donate.

Some of the upcoming Red Cross blood drives in the area are:

• Noon to 5 p.m Aug. 13, Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Company.

• Noon to 5 p.m Aug. 22, St. Peter’s Church Parish Center in Brownsville.

• 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 3, Christian Center Church in Belle Vernon.

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 3, PennWest University in California.

• 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 4, Monongahela Fire Hall.

Appointments can be made online or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Roschella added that the Red Cross app has several helpful features, such as showing the donor’s blood type and keeping track of previous blood donations.

Donors have to wait 56 days to give blood again. The Red Cross app notifies donors when they are eligible to donate. It also allows users to schedule a new appointment.

“Another really cool thing about our app that I like to let people know about is, it will show you where your blood goes after you donate. So you kind of get to see the journey,” Roschella said.

Donors can follow their donation from its processing stage to when it’s delivered to the hospital. Roschella added that the app will even provide the name of the hospital where your blood is delivered.

“It’s really exciting to kind of see that come full circle and, see your good deed come to fruition for a family in need,” Roschella said.

Anyone who donates this month will be emailed a $20 Amazon gift card.

Roschella said they are trying to raise awareness that eligible donors can donate blood up to six times a year.

The Red Cross also encourages organizations and businesses to host on-site blood drives.

“We’re always looking for more partners to host drives with us. That can encourage your coworkers and members of your different organizations, whether it’s a church or community center or another community organization, to come out and give,” Roschella said.

For more information about becoming a blood donor or hosting a blood donation drive, go to www.redcrossblood.org.