American Red Cross facing severe blood shortage as hospital demand increases

The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise – and deplete the nation’s blood inventory.  KAUS News spoke with Sue Thesenga, Regional Communications Manager with the American Red Cross in Minnesota who stated that the Red Cross is keeping many COVID-19 protocols in place at their blood drives moving forward…

Thesenga went on to state that all blood types are needed, especially type O and those giving platelets….

American Red Cross blood drives coming up in Mower County for the month of June include a drive Wednesday at Southland High School in Adams at 203 2nd St. from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and also in Austin at the J.C. Hormel Nature Center on Monday, June 28th from noon to 6 p.m., and at Austin Utilities on Tuesday, June 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Schedule an appointment to give blood now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.