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SALT LAKE CITY — Despite how busy people are during the holidays, the need for blood donations continues.
The American Red Cross is asking Utahns to donate blood ahead of the holidays, citing potential shortages due to travel, illness and poor weather. And they're offering an incentive.
Holiday traveling and an increase in respiratory illnesses decrease the number of people who are able to donate, and weather conditions lead to canceled blood drives, which is why the organization is urging people to set aside time to donate now.
"It's important for donors — especially type O blood donors — to give now to ensure hospitals have the blood they need through the end of the year," according to a statement from the American Red Cross' Utah/Nevada region.
The universal blood type, O negative, is what emergency rooms need when there is not time to determine a blood type so it is needed on hand during trauma situations, the Red Cross said.
To thank people who help with the current needs, those who donate blood between now and Dec. 15 will receive a $10 gift card for Amazon.com, and those who come during the holidays but after that time period will receive a Red Cross T-shirt as long as supplies are still available.
Jeremiah Lafranca, executive director of the American Red Cross of Utah Greater Salt Lake Chapter, said blood is needed about every two seconds in the United States, and 40% of that blood is supplied by the Red Cross.
"For as long as medicine has been around, we've had to rely on the generosity of others to give blood so it's available when needed. ... Any of us — our friends, family, neighbors — could be in an accident or become ill some day and need blood. Yet, in the U.S., where 62% of the population is eligible to give, only 3% does," Lafranca said.
Information about blood drives can be found on the American Red Cross Blood Donor App or on the Red Cross website.
