Red Cross looking for blood donations

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
The American Red Cross (ARC) of Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region declared a state of emergency Monday after blood inventories declined significantly.
Fortunately the emergency only includes two specific types of blood, O negative and B negative.
Russellville High School is scheduled to help fight the shortage when they host their annual blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 27.
RHS National Honor Society sponsors the event every year in January to support the ARC’s mission to save lives.
Communications Manager of ARC’s Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region Evan Duffy said January is one of the most demanding months for blood.
The month of January was declared National Volunteer Blood Donor Month in 1970 by the American Association of Blood Banks. Nearly five million people need blood transfusions every year and one out of ten persons entering the hospital need blood. Statistics show that one blood donation could help save the lives of up to three people.
Duffy said if donations decline and blood inventories start to run out, doctors will begin to cancel some elective surgeries to save supply.
RHS’s blood drive has been a success the past two years, accumulating 166 units each year. Duffy said this annual drive jump-starts the year for them.
The ARC and RHS blood drive will be held from 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the high school gym. The public is invited. All presenting volunteer blood donors will receive a t-shirt and a coupon for a free Pizza Hut one-topping personal pan pizza. Donors will also be entered into the quarterly drawing to win a $1,000 gift card. If there is anyone who would like to donate but is unable to attend, visit www.redcrossblood.org to see when and where the next blood drive is scheduled to be held in the area.