On top of a 10% drop in blood donations since March 2020, blood drives continue to be canceled because of illness, staffing shortages and weather-related issues, the Red Cross said.
As COVID-19 has affected schools and universities, blood supplies have been impacted, too. Students accounted for about a quarter of all blood donations in 2019 but have made up only 10% during the pandemic, the Red Cross said. College and high school blood drives dropped by 62% since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the organization said.
While all blood types are needed, people with Type O blood are especially encouraged to donate. Type O-negative is the universal blood type, while Type O-positive can be given to anyone who is Rh positive. Anyone 16 or older, at least 110 pounds and in good health can donate blood. More specific eligibility criteria can be viewed online.People can return every 56 days to donate, and scheduling repeat appointments is encouraged.©2022 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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