Emergency Blood Shortage 🩸

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education inside the United States. The organization is also responsible for supplying about 40% of the nation's blood, teaching life-saving skills, distributing international humanitarian aid, and supporting veterans, military members, and their families. The organization is currently experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.

The American Red Cross provides a comprehensive guide to blood types and transfusions on their website. Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of red blood cells. There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on the surface of red blood cells. In addition to the A and B antigens, there is a protein called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent (–), creating the 8 most common blood types (A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, AB-).

The American Red Cross website provides information on how to donate blood, platelets, or plasma. The website also provides information on how to host a blood drive, become a volunteer, and make a financial donation. The website also provides a guide to blood donation myths and how to help patients. Blood donors who are Black play a critical role in helping sickle cell disease patients receive the most compatible blood match. Donors are needed to meet this urgent need.

Come to give Jan. 1-31, 2024, to automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas!