COBB COUNTY, Ga. — American Red Cross officials say blood donations have been declining since the beginning of the pandemic, and now the supply is dangerously low.
The Red Cross is now having to limit its distribution to hospitals and said it is desperate for blood and platelet donations.
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Channel 2′s Elizabeth Rawlins spoke to people donating blood at a Red Cross donation center in Cobb County on Saturday.
“That is very scary,” blood donor Kristi Story said.
The American Red Cross announced this week the national blood crisis is the worst they have seen in more than 10 years.
“I was looking online, and I’ve gotten several calls from them,” donor Walker Wolf said.
Add it to the long list of pandemic fallout. The Red Cross has been falling behind on its supply since March 2020 after losing some of its largest contributors almost overnight, as high schools and colleges shut down.
“We used to do a blood drive at our school, but since COVID we haven’t been able to do it,” Wolf said.
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Even though most schools and businesses have reopened, many blood drives continue to get canceled because of the pandemic and weather-related issues.
Hospitals are being forced to ration their blood supply.
“I can only do so much, but I encourage everyone to do what they can,” Story said.
“I heard they needed blood, and I have a day off, so it’s the perfect day to do it,” Wolf said.
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There are donation locations all over metro Atlanta. You can find a location and sign up to donate on the American Red Cross website.
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