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Red Cross, Others Try To Convince Blood Donors To Come Back

Courtesy of American Red Cross

American Red Cross officials say they are urgently looking for blood donors right now.

They say there's a shortage caused by an increase in demand, combined with fewer people donating during the Covid pandemic."Even without Covid in the summer, we generally see an increase in demand. Unfortunately, they're out and active and hurting themselves more, and that might be exacerbated this summer," said Ryan Rodin, the executive director of the Inland Northwest chapter of the Red Cross.

 

He also says many people deferred having procedures done during the pandemic and are now hoping to schedule elective surgeries. In some cases, those are being delayed by hospitals until the blood supply stabilizes.

 

The Red Cross is scheduling several blood drives in the Spokane area: June 30 from 1-6 pm, and again on July 1 from 11:30 am-4:30 pm at the Double Tree by Hilton in downtown Spokane. Another will be held July 2 at George Gee Buick in Liberty Lake from 11 am-4 pm.

Rodin says the Red Cross is seeking donations from anyone who is currently healthy. 

We do ask if folks can bring their vaccination card or a picture of their card to the drive. That helps in general. We do want to know what kind of vaccination they received if they did get one," he said.
 

 

Steve was part of the Spokane Public Radio family for many years before he came on air in 1999. His wife, Laurie, produced Radio Ethiopia in the late 1980s through the '90s, and Steve used to “lurk in the shadowy world” of Weekend SPR. Steve has done various on air shifts at the station, including nearly 15 years as the local Morning Edition host. Currently, he is the voice of local weather and news during All Things Considerd, writing, editing, producing and/or delivering newscasts and features for both KPBX and KSFC. Aside from SPR, Steve ,who lives in the country, enjoys gardening, chickens, playing and listening to music, astronomy, photography, sports cars and camping.