Red Cross trying to avoid summer blood shortage

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Red Cross in Indiana is making a push for people to donate blood.

Organizers say summer activities like vacations mean fewer donors during the summer months, however, hospitals and patients still depend on volunteer donors to receive lifesaving transfusions. The need for blood doesn’t get a vacation.

The Red Cross says every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion and officials are now asking for help to avoid a blood shortage this summer at all costs. A shortage would be a problem for people who need transfusions or are in an unexpected emergency situation.

Vince Robinson, from the Indiana Red Cross, says typically, when you give blood, a person donates one pint. But an accident victim might need 100 pints of blood right away

“When you’re talking about a dramatic car accident for example that’s a person that might need 100 units of blood and they need it right now,” said Robinson. “You can’t go out and collect it at that point, it’s got to be on the shelves right then and there. So that’s why summer is a challenge and that’s why we are really encouraging people right now before you get too busy with summer activities, set aside one day to make one hour of that one day to come donate blood.”

The Red Cross says 90 percent of us are going to need blood or will know someone that will need blood in our lifetime.

They are looking for donors of all blood types but especially people with types O negative, A negative and B negative are needed.

To get involved call 1-800-Red-Cross (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment. Download the Red Cross App or go to Red Cross or visit redcrossblood.org.

There’s also event in Hamilton County on Thursday. It’s from 3-7 p.m. at Pinnacle Chiropractic & Wellness LLC, located at 10126 Brooks School Rd. in Fishers.