Red Cross Makes Urgent Call for Blood

To say the COVID19 pandemic has hit us hard is an understatement. And, as we know, the medical community has been especially hard hit. With that, now the blood supply is seeing a severe shortage, and that is why the American Red Cross is putting out an urgent call for donations.

The American Red Cross is putting out that call for donors as it continues to experience a severe blood shortage and is offering an incentive like an Amazon Gift Card, Gas for a Year, and even trips, to encourage people to donate blood

The American Red Cross is urging donors of all blood types, especially type O and those giving platelets, to make an appointment.

Fox17 reports that more than 1,000 additional blood donations are needed each day to meet current demand, according to the Red Cross. They say the demand is due to hospitals responding to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries.

What are the incentives? As a way to thank donors who help refuel the blood and platelet supply, all who donate blood now through July 31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email and will also receive automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year.

Those who donate during July will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for four to Cedar Point or Knott’s Berry Farm.

You can schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.