Red Cross Announces Blood Shortage

Yesterday, the American Red Cross held a press conference at to address a blood shortage, according to a phillyburbs.com story.

The story says the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Service is down 2,000 units and the organization said it expects the number of units to continue to fall due to the summer months — 18 percent of the Red Cross’ blood donations come from high schools and colleges.

See the original story here.

In the story, Dr. James Yuschak, director of the hospital’s trauma unit, said having blood available can mean the “difference between life or death.”

According to the American Red Cross website:

• One pint of blood can save three lives.
• Only one out of every 100 people in the country donates blood
• A person must be 17 years old (and in some states 16) and weigh at least 110 pounds to be eligible to donate blood.
• A person must wait eight weeks before donating blood again.

For more information about blood donation from the American Red Cross. In the Perkiomen Valley, the upcoming blood drives will be held, open to the public. The following dates, times and places offer Perkiomen Valley residents several chances to lend a helping hand:

• On June 23, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., WMMR's Preston and Steve will host a drive at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, 100 Station Ave. 
• On June 29, from 1 to 7 p.m., there will be a drive at the , 1015 Bridge St., Collegeville.
• On July 5, from noon to 5 p.m. Best Buy, at 400 Front St., Collegeville
• On July 9, from 2 to 7 p.m., Upper Providence Township Rec Center, 499 Hopwood Road, Collegeville
• On July 23, from 2 to 7 p.m., , 29 E. Fifth St., Collegeville