The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage, saying patients are at risk of not getting lifesaving transfusions.
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Donors are needed now more than ever as the Red Cross faces a national emergency shortage, with the number of donors at a 20-year low. Medical director Dr. Eric Gehrie says the Red Cross has experienced a loss of 300,000 donors since the COVID-19 pandemic alone.
“It means that hospitals will order a certain number of units of blood, and those orders are not being filled fully,” he said. “So hospital blood banks are low on blood.”
Every time I donate blood, it’s frustrating because there are so many questions.
“Who’s blood is it?” and, “Why is it in a bucket?” Sheesh, how am I supposed to know?
They’re less picky when it’s in tuperware or a ziplock bag.
It’s because open containers allow for more contaminants.