Red Cross meeting blood demand in WNY

The Red Cross says it is meeting demand for blood in our area.

But just because they're meeting demand doesn't mean they don't need it.

They're urging you to donate ASAP.

NEW DETAILS THISMORNING-ABOUT THE NEED FORBLOOD DURING THISPANDEMIC.WE'RE NOW LEARNINGTHE RED CROSS--IS MEETING DEMANDSIN OUR COMMUNITY.THE SHORTAGE--FIRST REPORTSEVERAL WEEKSAGO--HAS STABILIZED...WE'RE TOLD BLOODHAS A SHELF LIFE--OF A LITTLE MORETHAN A MONTH...SO THERE WILLALWAYS BE A NEEDFOR DONORS.THING IS, THERE'SALSO AN "INCREASINGNEED"--FOR CONVALESCENTPLASMA--FROM PEOPLE WHO'VETESTED POSITIVE FORTHE ANTIBODIES TOCOVID-19--WHICH, ONLY HAS ASHELF LIFE OFSEVERAL DAYS.6.43-7.12 DRANTCH:THERE WAS A DIRENEED FOR BLOOD ATONE POINT.

IS THERE ADIRE NEED FORPLASMA RIGHT NOW?IT'S HARD.

I THINK ITDEPENDS ON THEHOSPITAL NEEDS ATTHIS POINT AND THEKIND OF PATIENTSTHEY'RE SEEING.

IT'SHARD TO REALLY SAYTHAT.

I DO KNOW, JUSTLIKE THE WHOLEBLOOD, IF THERE'S ANEMERGENCY, THATPATIENT CAN'T WAIT,THEY NEED THATBLOOD THAT'S ON THESHELVES AND AGAIN,THAT'S A PERISHABLEPRODUCT WHICH ISWHY THERE'S ANONGOING NEED.

IT'SGOING TO BE VERYSIMILAR DEPENDING ONHOW THIS PROCESSGOES.THE RED CROSSURGING YOU TO MAKEAN APPOINTMENT TODONATE BLOOD IF YOUCAN...AND AT LEAST AT THISPOINT, IT'S ABOUTMORE THAN JUST THECORONAVIRUS.2.05 THINGS LICANCER PATIENTS, ORA MOTHER WHO HAS ACOMPLICATION GIVINGBIRTH -- A SICKLE CELLANEMIA PATIENT--THOSE PEOPLE STILLNEED BLOOD ON THESHELVES NO MATTERWHAT ELSE HAPPENS2.YOU CAN FIND OUTHOW TO MAKE ANAPPOINTMENT TODONATE BLOOD--OR HOW TO DONATEPLASMA FOR COVIDPATIENTS--RIGHT NOW ON