By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
An emergency blood shortage has been declared by the American Red Cross.
Red Cross spokeswoman Angie Springs says the most needed blood is Type O, the universal blood type, but all blood types will help in this shortage.
Springs says there are many reasons why the blood supply has fallen so low, such as people returning to normal routines after the coronavirus pandemic eased.
"People are going back to the work place, and so life is looking a little bit different, a lot of people are trying to go back out and travel now that vaccinations are rolled out, they feel safe going about what we would call normal life," Springs tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "As well as kids are going back to school, in person learning."
Springs adds some blood donors have hesitated to begin giving blood again, because of safety concerns. Springs emphasizes the Red Cross takes every safety precaution to keep donors safe.
Springs says the only way the Red Cross can get more blood, is if people go out, roll up their sleeves, and donate.
But Springs is aware that in the midst of the COVID pandemic, some potential donors might hesitate, due to safety concerns. She says that might have led to the blood shortage.
"I don't know that I can actually say that it is," Springs says. "But I don't know that we can actually say that it isn't either, I think that the signs would definitely point to the pandemic having an impact on the thought process around going out and is it safe to go and give blood, and absolutely it is."
Springs assures donors the Red Cross takes precautions to ensure the safety of its blood donors.
If you would like to donate, Springs says the Red Cross is accepting walk ins, but you are asked to make an appointment to help with social distancing.
Springs says that while all blood types will help increase the blood supply, the universal capabilities of Type O are important for hospitals, especially in times of emergency.
"Because it is something they don't have to try to figure out what blood type you have when they're trying to work with somebody that's a trauma patient, that's come in after a car accident and they need to get a blood transfusion going quickly, they know that Type O of course is universal, so the demand for Type O is certainly higher than any other type," Springs explains.
Springs adds that the only way to help get the blood supply back up is for more residents to donate. The number of donors and hosts has gone down recently with people traveling, going back to work in the office, and even with kids going back to school.
For more information on donating blood you can click HERE