American Red Cross announces blood crisis across the nation

The American Red Cross announced a national blood crisis for the first time in decades.

In recent weeks, the Red Cross had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types. At times, as little as one quarter of hospital blood needs are being met.

These low blood supply levels are posing a risk to patients and forcing doctors to make decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait.

To encourage donors, those who come to give in January will be automatically entered for a chance to win a getaway to Superbowl 56 and will also be entered to win a home theater package and a $500 e-gift card. American Red Cross MS Senior Account Manager Denise Smith said, “So we do have drives all over the Gulf Coast for the next few weeks. Actually, we tend to have them quite often, and that is because there is such a large need, and American Red Cross provides about 40 percent of the national blood supply so that means we have a lot of needs. We have to provide that blood.”

To find a blood drive near you, visit redcrossblood.org and type in your zip code.