The Red Cross needs blood donors after a decrease in donations.
Nationwide, the Red Cross is down 20,000 blood units compared to last year, according to the organization. The Red Cross needs to collect 12,500 units per day to maintain the national blood supply.
Patty Brooks is the Executive Director for Eastern South Dakota. She said the blood shortage affects South Dakota.
“And that doesn’t stop when people need blood. We still have accidents happening, severe weather across South Dakota happening, just yesterday, surgeries, cancer patients, so the blood product is still needed. This reduction in blood units and blood donations is critical to South Dakota,” Brooks said.
Summer is traditionally a time when Red Cross experiences a drop in donations due to severe weather and the higher rate of travel across the state.
