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Hurricane contributes to blood shortages, KDMC hosts blood drive Oct. 24

  • Category: News
  • Posted On:
  • Written By: Tammi Holbrook
The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donations. Coming off a critical summer donation shortage, the situation has worsened as Hurricane Matthew hits the southeastern U.S. Multiple Red Cross blood drives have been canceled in the south and more cancellations are anticipated along the path of the storm. The need for blood will increase in storm-ravaged communities.

To help meet this critical need, King’s Daughters will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 1:15 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 in the medical center’s Health Education Center (lower level of the Lexington Avenue parking garage) in Ashland.

Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

American Red Cross Facts and Stats to Know:

• Although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood at any given time, less than 10 percent of those who can actually do.
• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
• More than 1.68 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.