WSLS 10 teams up with Red Cross to help with blood drive shortage

The WSLS 10 Cares Blood Drive is happening Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m.

ROANOKE, Va. – WSLS 10 is teaming up with the American Red Cross for the Annual Ten Cares Blood Drive.

Type-O blood is currently in the hugest demand, as it's considered a universal donor. It's the blood type that's used in emergency situations before the patient's blood type is known and also for newborns that need blood.

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Jackie Grant, the executive director of the Roanoke Chapter of the Red Cross, says all blood types are currently in demand as donations have been low over the past few months. There are currently 61,000 fewer donations than needed, the equivalent of getting no blood donations for four days.

Things could get even worse in the coming weeks. With people on vacation and normal donation centers, like schools, closed for the summer-- this is typically the worst time of year for blood donations.

"There are people during the summer that have surgeries that could be delayed because there's not enough blood," says Grant. "The Red Cross supplies 40 percent of blood to the country, so it's important we have a continuous flow of blood coming in."

The Red Cross tries to keep a stockpile of at least 5 days worth of blood.

Donating is quick, all in all it takes about 30 to 45 minutes from the time you walk in to begin registration until you're finished and walking back out to your car. But the actual blood donation itself is even quicker; it only takes about 10 minutes.

For Wednesday's drive, the Red Cross is encouraging past donors to come out and donate again. As long as you haven't donated blood in the last 56 days, or about two months, you can take part in this blood drive.

Grant is encouraging new donors to come out as well. Only about 38 percent of people in the United States are eligible to donate blood at any given time, making it extremely important for those who are able to donate to do so.

"Such a small percentage of people are actually eligible to donate blood and with in that pool, only about 10 percent actually donate. We really need new donors to come in," she says.

Wednesday's blood drive will take place at the Red Cross on Church Avenue. It will run from noon until 5 p.m.

For details on your eligibility as a donor, click here.