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A spokesperson said donations are at a 20-year low, and the need is constant, so they're encouraging anyone who can to roll up their sleeves and help.
WASHINGTON — As September nears its end, the Red Cross is highlighting Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
A spokesperson for the Red Cross said cancer patients use nearly one quarter of the nation's blood supply, so there is a constant need to fill.
When it comes to blood cancer, the Head of the Blood Collection Team for the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region, Jodi Zand, said platelets in particular are needed.
"A lot of cancer patients use platelets to help them with their treatments. Cancer and cancer treatments tend to damage bone marrow, which produces platelets, so they need a lot of transfusions of both red blood cells and platelets to help them get through their treatments," Zand said.
Those expire after five days, and you can donate them every seven days.
According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a person in the United States is diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma approximately every three minutes.
Hurricane Helene is also impacting the blood supply locally.
Red Cross spokesperson Scott Marder said the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region sent hundreds of units of blood down to the southeastern areas in Helene's path.
"When a storm like that hits, blood drives for example may be canceled. People can't go to blood donation centers to donate. That further affects the blood supply nationally," Marder said.
Blood donation rates also have not recovered since the pandemic.
Marder said donations are at a 20-year low, and the need for more blood never stops.
"We need people to come out, roll up their sleeves and donate blood. It only takes about an hour and it saves lives," Marder said.
If you want to donate, you can click here.
For whole blood donation, the process from check-in to finish lasts about an hour.
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