As a result of low turnout of blood donors in recent months, the Red Cross is heading into the holidays with its lowest blood supply in more than a decade at this time of year and is urging healthy donors to make an appointment to provide lifesaving blood products.

Red Cross data shows the nation’s blood supply has dropped to the lowest it has been at this time of year since 2015. Donor turnout has been decreasing by roughly 10% each month since August.

The Red Cross hosted a blood drive in Slippery Rock on Friday. A news release days before the event stated the drive had only half the number of potential donors registered necessary to make the drive successful.

COVID-19 is a big reason why people aren’t donating, but it’s not the only reason.

Even though we are in a pandemic, this typically is a very slow time of the year for donations; people are busy preparing for the holidays, traveling and spending time with family. Blood supplies historically run low during the winter months.

Donations are desperately needed to meet the needs of accident and burn victims, surgery patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. Platelets and blood have a shelf life of only a few days and need to be restocked consistently.

If a you are concerned about transmitting COVID through a donation or potentially compromising your own health by being depleted of blood, don’t be. There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted via blood.

Since the pandemic, America has seen shortages everywhere, but the difference between a shortage in employees or products and a shortage in blood is life or death.

All blood types and components are needed, with a critical need for platelets and Type O blood.

To make an appointment through the American Red Cross, call 1-800-Red-Cross or visit redcross.org redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive to find a local blood drive.

It’s time to roll up our sleeves.

— JGG