Red Cross Reports Lowest Blood Supply in More Than A Decade
The American Red Cross is marking Red Cross Month with a dire warning – the nation is suffering its worst blood shortage in more than a decade, which poses a severe risk to patient care. Donations have dropped 10 percent overall since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020, with ongoing blood drive cancelations due to illness, weather-related closures and staffing limitations creating a national blood crisis. L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan, has not canceled one of its scheduled blood drives during the pandemic. In fact, it is hosting its 11th blood drive since the pandemic began today at its downtown headquarters.
The Red Cross, which supplies 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply, has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals as a result of the shortage, impacting elective procedures, as the blood must be held for those suffering traumatic injury or unplanned emergencies.
And now, there is another critical need. Starting this month, the American Red Cross is again testing donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Plasma from donations that meet the Food and Drug Administration’s criteria for convalescent plasma may be used to treat immunocompromised patients battling COVID-19, as new clinical data has shown such treatment is effective in these patients.
The Red Cross will follow strict safety protocols at the L.A. Care event, which will be held in a large conference room, to allow for social distancing. Masks are required for all volunteers and donors.
The American Red Cross will be at:
L.A. Care Health Plan
1055 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, Room 100
Tuesday, March 22
9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Media welcome 10:00 am – Noon
All who give blood or platelets in March will get a $10 e-gift card, thanks to Fanatics. They will also automatically be entered for a chance to win two tickets to the 2022 MLB® All-Star Game®, which is being held in Los Angeles.
Sign up to donate here.