Talking Points
TOPLINE MESSAGES

Severe winter weather throughout January and into February has forced the
cancellation of American Red Cross blood drives from coast to coast.
o From January 2 through February 10, more than 1,000 Red Cross blood drives in 34
states and Washington, D.C. have been canceled, resulting in about 35,000
uncollected blood and platelet donations.
 States with canceled blood drives include: Alabama, Arkansas,
Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and
Wisconsin.

The extraordinary number of cancellations is the equivalent of the Red Cross having
to shut down its national operations for more than two full days.
o On average, the Red Cross must collect about 15,000 units of blood every day for
patients at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.
o Blood products are being distributed to hospitals as quickly as donations come in.
o Overall, donations in January 2014 were down about 10 percent when you average
typical January donations since 2011.

The Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors to help restock the shelves in
February. Donors of all blood types are currently needed, especially O negative, O
positive, B negative and A negative.
o It’s the blood already on the shelves that can help save lives in an emergency
situation.
o Type O negative is universal and can likely be transfused to anyone who needs
blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to patients with either Rh
positive or negative blood.
o Eligible donors with Rh negative blood types are encouraged to give double red cells
where available.
 During a double red cell donation, two units of red cells are collected while most
of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor.

There is also an urgent need for platelet donors to make and keep appointments to
give.
o Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients must be transfused within five days of donation, so donations are always needed.

Make an appointment today to donate blood or platelets. One donation can help save
up to three lives.
Talking Points
o
Please visit us online at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule
your appointment to donate.
 To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and
height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their
Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them. Some
states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.
SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGES

Seasonal illnesses like the flu can impact blood and platelet donations. Healthy
donors are needed to ensure blood and platelets are available for patients in need.
o The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that flu activity
commonly peaks in January and February.
o The Red Cross encourages individuals to get a flu shot for the best chance of
protection.
o It is important to do what you can to stay healthy this season. There are several
steps to take to help stop the spread of germs.
 Avoid or minimize contact with sick people, and stay away from others as much
as possible when you are sick.
 Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer.
 Cover your mouth and nose with tissues when you cough and sneeze. If you
don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
o Visit redcrossblood.org/flu to learn more about flu and the blood supply, as well as
prevention tips.

Volunteer donors from across the country are needed to help patients in need. The
Red Cross must collect an average of 15,000 pints of blood every day.
o The Red Cross must collect enough blood donations every day to meet the needs of
cancer patients, trauma victims, organ transplant recipients, premature babies with
complications, sickle cell disease patients and others.
o Blood and platelets are both perishable. Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days,
and platelets have a shelf life of just five days, so they must be replenished
constantly; there simply is no substitute.
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