Red Cross needs more blood donations

CEDAR RAPIDS- Every two seconds someone needs blood in the United States.

The American Red Cross has reached emergency low levels of blood donations. 

“We're at a critical point,” says Eastern Iowa Red Cross Donor Recruitment Representative Danielle Grabe.

They have half the amount of supplies compared to this time last year.

“There's such a critical need for blood and blood components during the summer,” says Red Cross Grant Wood Area Chapter Director Steve Barnett.  “There's more accidents but folks go out on vacation and become very busy so securing blood is tough during this time.

Donations were 50,000 less than what was expected for the month of June.

“It affects everything when we're supplying this blood and we're not able to get it to the hospitals and to the patients in need,” says Grabe.

The Red Cross supplies blood locally and for 3,000 hospitals nationwide.

“We really rely heavily on our donors and we thank them greatly because they truly do make a huge difference and they are lifesavers,” says Barnett.

Blood donor Ben Venteicher knows the effect a donation can have, “My son was just born in January and had a transfusion and I'm thankful that he was able to get that blood.”

The Cedar Rapids Red Cross center is open for donations every Monday at 6300 Rockwell Drive NE.