APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In January, the Red Cross declared its first ever blood crisis, amid a dire need for blood.
Five months later, it’s still in high demand.
Juliana Jarchow of the Community Blood Center in Appleton tells FOX 11 it becomes a challenge to find donors in the summertime.
“Summer in general is a really important time for blood donors to be coming out to donate.”
The American Red Cross says there’s a 21% decline in donations during holiday weekends.
Giving the 34th Annual MASH Appleton Blood Drive added significance.
“There’s still a national blood shortage and that’s something that we continue to feel even here,” said Jarchow. “Blood centers all across the nation are reporting low inventories and we do feel that as well. Right now we have an urgent need for Type A and Type O blood donors.”
Partnering with the drive, AMVETS Post 30 Commander of Greenville Kim Craddock speaks of the need for blood in Northeast Wisconsin hospitals.
“We need heroes. We need heroes to give blood and promote giving blood.”
Saying Independence Day festivities, if not done correctly, could further show that need.
“Just safety in general, whether it’s boating, or any kind of extracurricular activity,” said Craddock. “Whether it’s fireworks and that kind of thing, so blood donation is always something that we need in the summer too, we need to save lives.”
With the expectation of collecting 400 units of blood on Wednesday, Jarchow says that’s just half of what’s needed for the week.
“It’s really important that people are continuing to schedule their donations into the days and weeks to come to make sure that our inventory is where it needs to be.”
For more on where and how you can donate blood click here.
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