American Red Cross, Needs More Blood
Blood donation drives are being set up across the country. This summer has seen abysmal blood donation. The American Red cross needs 44, 000 units daily, but is not getting enough.
Anthony Tornetta, from the American Red Cross says, "The weather was nicer as we got into the summer. People were traveling, golfing- they were out. We saw 200 units go uncollected in our region. You take that and multiply it by 36, it's a pretty significant impact."
The Red Cross ideally wants to collect 44,000 units of blood nationally, every day.
But at a processing center in Philadelphia, blood is woefully inadequate.
"We can collect more,we have the ability to collect more. But we need members and residents to come out and support and donate. They must support the Red Cross and support their community," says Tornetta.
These days, workers wait anxiously for red flashing lights- it means there's in-coming blood.
Tornetta explains, "You can never be over-prepared for unfortunate emergency situations. Whether weather related or a 9/11 situation, our goal is to maintain a stable supply. So that if something like that happens, we are prepared.”
Until more blood comes in, there's a plea going out to every eligible donor.
"You may not know the person- it might not be your brother, the person down the street. But it maybe someone in your locality, it is going to help somebody soon," adds Tornetta
Now the Red Cross has made it easy for you to find a blood drive or donation center. Just go online to redcrossblood.org or simply call 1-800-red-cross.
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