NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The American Red Cross has seen a shortfall in blood donations this summer.
"We currently are seeing a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of summer," said Tiffany Davison with the Red Cross. "This makes it hard to keep that hospital shelf stocked with the lifesaving blood products that people need."
If you can't get off to donate as often, but still want to give the most when you can, the American Red Cross has an opportunity for you, as well.
"One of those donations that we would love people to sign up for is the Power Red," Davison said. "Those are our O Negative, O Positive, A Negative and B Negative. Of course, there's people who don't know what their blood type is, so they would have to come in and get that checked."
Power Red is similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning your plasma and platelets to you. It takes about a half hour longer than a whole blood donation.
"It also has some height and weight restrictions for males and females," Davison said. "You can find all that at https://www.redcrossblood.org/, as well.
The Hutchinson blood drive wraps up Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. Donors will be served a meal each day, and delicious cinnamon rolls will be there on Wednesday.
You can schedule your appointment. Just call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), visit RedCrossBlood.org or use the Blood Donor App and enter sponsor code Hutchinson.
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