As Hurricane Ian heads toward the United States, the American Red Cross is sending hundreds of type O blood products to Florida to ensure patients in impacted areas have continued access to lifesaving care. Blood can take up to three days to be tested, processed and made available for patients so, individuals in unaffected areas are urged to make and keep their blood and platelet appointments to help ensure a stable blood supply.
While the Red Cross does not typically service hospitals in Florida, it is supporting its industry partners through the AABB Task Force for Disaster Response and standing by to provide additional products as needed. Through its national inventory management system, the Red Cross has the ability to move blood around the country to wherever and whenever it is needed most. In times of disaster, impacted areas may not be able to host blood drives for days or even weeks, canceling countless scheduled drives and donations on which hospital patients rely. Moving blood to potentially impacted areas in advance of a disaster is an important part of ensuring hospitals have what they need to respond.
It’s important to remember that blood is perishable and cannot be stockpiled. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type and type O negative is the universal blood type, which can be transfused to patients of any blood type. Additionally, platelets are especially vulnerable with only a five-day shelf-life. These blood products are routinely in short supply and must constantly be replenished.
We depend on generous volunteer blood donors to provide lifesaving blood for those in need – each and every day – not only during times of disaster.
The Red Cross encourages eligible individuals in non-impacted areas to give blood now. Those in impacted areas should wait to donate blood until it is safe to do so. To find a blood drive, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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September 28, 2022 at 08:47PM
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Red Cross Sends Blood to Florida in Advance of Hurricane Ian - American Red Cross
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