{"id":35719,"date":"2013-04-01T16:00:34","date_gmt":"2013-04-01T20:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=35719"},"modified":"2013-04-01T16:00:34","modified_gmt":"2013-04-01T20:00:34","slug":"winter-weather-impacting-blood-collections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2013\/04\/01\/winter-weather-impacting-blood-collections\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter weather impacting blood collections"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"American<\/p>\n

News release from the American Red Cross:<\/p>\n

Winter Weather Impacting Blood Collections<\/strong>
\nDonations Today Help Save Lives Tomorrow<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(April 1, 2013) – This winter has been particularly harsh, impacting a large portion of the country causing a significant number of blood drive cancellations and impacting our blood supply. Since the beginning of February, winter weather has forced the cancellation of over 425 American Red Cross blood drives, resulting in a shortfall of more than 16,000 blood donations through the Red Cross.<\/p>\n

These losses mean that potentially 48,000 hospital patients could have been impacted. Eligible donors are encouraged to give lifesaving blood to help offset the current shortfall and ensure a stable supply. All blood types are currently needed, especially O negative, B negative and A negative. Rh-negative blood types can be transfused to both Rh-positive and Rh-negative patients. Type O negative blood is universal and can potentially be transfused to patients with any blood type.<\/p>\n

Here are just a few examples of patients who received blood products donated through the American Red Cross:<\/p>\n