Red Cross needs assistance

By WIBW TV

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -The American Red Cross says this holiday season is even drier than most, but you can help fix that with some holiday giving.

“We are seeing blood levels at historically low levels this time of year,” said Matthew Trotter, with The American Red Cross. “It’s been about a decade since we’ve seen blood donations coming in like they are right now.”

The American Red Cross says the nation is facing an extreme blood supply shortage.

Some blood centers across the nation are reporting that they have less than a one-day supply of blood.

The pandemic has left this holiday season, which typically sees a lower supply than the rest of the year, drastically low.

“We’ve seen a thirty-four percent drop off in new donors this year from what’s typical,” said Trotter. “A lot of schools and even businesses being down to remote, fewer students being in for blood drives, and that has really impacted the number of new donors we can bring in.”

  You can schedule an appointment to give blood here.