Blizzard leaves Red Cross in urgent need of blood & platelets
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Up till last weekend's blizzard, it's been a fairly mild winter in this area, and the East coast as a whole.
But it's been a tough one for the Red Cross, and last weekend's blizzard made it even tougher.
Since Jan. 1, winter weather has forced the cancellation of more than 300 Red Cross blood drives across 20 states, at a time when blood supplies are usually tight.
In the Penn-Jersey Red Cross Blood Services Region, serving the Greater Philadelphia Area, New Jersey and Kent and New Castle counties in Delaware, 35 blood drives have been canceled since Saturday, causing nearly 800 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.
That's triggered an emergency call by the Red Cross for donations of blood and platelets.
How to donate blood:
A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.
High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donation appointments can be scheduled quickly and easily by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
