Donating blood is still safe

Maple Lake hosts Red Cross Blood Drive

By Brenda Erdahl

Efforts to collect life-saving blood supplies have fallen short across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but not here in Maple Lake.

Cathy Elfstrand is organizing a blood drive at the Maple Lake American Legion on Thursday, March 26 and as of early this week, 72 of 76 available appointments have been filled. To meet their goal during this challenging time would be admirable, but to do it they need just a few more donors. Fortunately, people can sign up until at least noon on Thursday. The last appointment is at 6:45 p.m., Elfstrand said. To sign up, potential donors must visit Red Cross’s on-line site at www.redcrossblood.org.

Through March 17, nearly 4,000 Red Cross blood drives have been canceled across the country due to coronavirus concerns, resulting in more than 100,000 fewer blood donations, American Red Cross Account Manager Tiffany Schulte said.

Minnesota and the Dakotas have seen 110 blood drives cancelled since that time, resulting 3,569 uncollected blood donations.

“As the number of COVID-19 cases grow here in Minnesota and the Dakotas, we do expect that number to increase, unfortunately,” Schulte said. “That’s why we are asking organizations to please keep their blood drives and for donors to continue to give. Together, we must ensure a readily available blood supply for patients who are counting on us.”

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