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Red Cross Experiencing Severe Blood Shortage, Offers Donors Incentives

WRFA Radio — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 10:41:32 +0000

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage that is negatively affecting blood product availability across the country. American Red Cross Regional Communications Manager Meg Rossman said said the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgery have risen, depleting the national blood inventory, “Hospitals right now are responding to atypically high number of traumas and emergency room visits, as well as overdoses, and resulting transplants so there is a great demand for blood patients right now especially as we’re coming out of the Pandemic.”

Rossman said they’re urging donors of all blood types, especially type O and those giving platelets, to make an appointment to give now and help ensure hospital shelves are stocked with blood products over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond.

Rossman said recently receiving a COVID-19 vaccine does not affect your eligibility to donate blood, “You know, as part of the donation process we do that health history with you. All you would need to do is tell the person you’re working with at that intake is tell them who the manufacturer of your vaccine was, but in most cases that would have no impact.”

Rossman said those who donate between now and tomorrow will receive a $5 Amazon gift card, “If you come in to give between July 1st and the 6th, you’ll actually receive a Red Cross embroidered hat, and those donors who come in to give July 7th though 31st will receive a $10 Amazon gift card by email and a chance to win gas for a year.”

The Red Cross is holding blood drives at the Chautauqua Mall from 12:30 to 5:30pm on July 1st, July 8th, and July 15th.

[LISTEN] Community Matters – Meg Rossman – May 27, 2021

WRFA Radio — Fri, 28 May 2021 12:14:04 +0000

Memorial Day weekend is a kind of unofficial kick off to summer. WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley spoke with American Red Cross‘ Meg Rossman who gives us some tips to help make this summer a safe one.

Officials Urge People to Be Safe this Memorial Day Weekend

WRFA Radio — Fri, 28 May 2021 11:36:54 +0000

Officials are urging people to be safe this Memorial Day weekend. County Sheriff Jim Quattrone announced the “STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign for Memorial Day and Weekend.” The campaign will take place from May 28th until June 1st. Quattrone said it’s a locally driven program with all Chautauqua County law enforcement agencies participating and working together; police departments, state police and the Sheriff’s Office coordinating awareness, education and enforcement activities.
County Executive PJ Wendel urged people not to drink and drive, “If you need to, get an Uber, get Lyft, find someone to drive, but you don’t want to jeopardize yourself. It’s costly and at the end of the day you don’t want to be the result of someone else’s actions or causing someone’s injury or life.”

Wendel said water safety is also a big issue, “You realize when you’re a kayaker you can see every boat but not every boat sees you. So we asking that, we do have these new experiences. We have paddleboards and different slower recreational activities for Chautauqua Lake that we really need to pay close attention to, not to mention jet skis and powerboats as well. Everyone this weekend especially needs to be careful on our lakes and waterways.”

American Red Cross Regional Communications Manager Meg Rossman said the Red Cross wants everyone, before they get in the water to be, “water smart,” “We want to prevent unsupervised access to water certainly by fencing in pools and spas, keeping an constant eye out for any water dangers and really designating a water watcher to keep a close eye and constant attention on small children and pets, and even weaker swimmers.”

Rossman said grilling is becoming more popular, but it sparks more than 10,000 home fires each year. She said a grill should always be supervised and that no one should use a grill indoors, “You know, I know the weather might be a little chillier than we were kind of hoping for this weekend, but certainly we don’t want it in any enclosed area like a house or a camper even. And while you’re doing that, we want to be sure small children and pets are staying away from the grill to avoid any injury.”

For information on free water safety courses, first aid training courses and more, visit redcross.org.