CLEVELAND — The Northern Ohio Region chapter of the American Red Cross said on Sunday it is facing a “severe blood shortage” in the area and is offering an incentive to donate blood.
Now through the end of June, the Red Cross is offering $5 Amazon.com gift cards for donating blood, platelets or plasma.
Last week, the American Red Cross said over the last three months, it has distributed roughly 75,000 blood products more than expected to meet hospital needs, which has significantly depleted its national blood supply. The result has forced some elective surgeries to be postponed, the Red Cross said.
“As the nation resumes some level of normalcy with progress in our battle against the pandemic, hospital need for blood is increasing,” the American Red Cross said in a statement last week. “The majority of hospitals have resumed nonessential surgeries and patients throughout the U.S. are resuming treatment options that include the use of blood and blood components that were postponed during the past year. These factors and more have led to a rise both in the number of patients who need blood – and an increased need for eligible individuals to donate.”
Northeast Ohio has three blood donations centers:
- 3747 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
- 5585 Pearl Road, Parma
- 501 W. Market St., Akron
Appointments can be scheduled online.
The American Red Cross has the following guidelines in order to donate blood:
- Be in good general health and feeling well
- Be at least 17 years old
- Weigh at least 110 pounds
- Have not donated blood in the last 56 days
The entire process takes roughly one hour, the American Red Cross said.