Listen: Why You Shouldn’t Rush To Donate Blood After The Orlando Tragedy

Alicia Abelson
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Sunday’s shootings at an Orlando night club have prompted people to rush to blood donation centers, but the American Red Cross advises people to wait.

While donation numbers drop during the summer months, and blood banks lack supply, it’s the blood that is already shelved and deployed that is used in emergency situations.

Beth Toll, the external communications manager for the American Red Cross says, “with events like these, it’s the blood on the shelves that helps.”

According to the American Red Cross, every two-seconds someone within the United States needs a blood transfusion. In order to supply the need for blood, the Red Cross would need 14,000 donations a day.

“Any blood that was donated yesterday or today will not be ready for another 24 to 48 hours to be used,” says Terry Craddock, the director of Inova Blood Services.

Blood donation centers are using World Blood Donor Day, which falls on June 14th, as an awareness campaign to make future appointments to donate blood throughout the rest of the summer months.

A person can donate blood every 56 days.