Emergency Need for Blood Continues

The emergency need for lifesaving blood continues this summer as the nation confronts a severe blood shortage due to a rise in hospital demand for blood products, according to the American Red Cross.

Hospitals are responding to a higher number of traumas and emergency room visits and seeing patients who postposed medical care earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Grand Terrace in partnership with the American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive on August 4, 2021 from 1:30pm to 7:30pm. To schedule your life-saving appointment, please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the sponsor code: GRANDTERRACE.

“While generous individuals across the country have rolled up a sleeve to help hospital patients, unfortunately, the Red Cross continues to face a severe blood shortage,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Right now, the Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day, above the average target, to meet current hospital demand. It’s critical that we increase the number of blood donations to match the growing need for blood to ensure every patient receives the medical treatments they need without delay.”

The American Red Cross is urging all healthy individuals to schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets. The August 4^th blood drive event will take place at the community room 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, CA 92313.

All blood types are needed, particularly type O, as well as platelets. With only about a day supply of type O blood, there is an emergency need for type O donors. Type O is the most needed blood group by hospitals.

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrissBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history question on the day of your appointment.

For more local news and information click here.