Barton County may be headed back into the balmy spring-like weather, but for much of the nation, conditions are not nearly so nice. And the deep freeze and unprecedented snow fall are combining to cause a variety of challenges, some of which end up being life threatening.
So Americans who are able to get out and around are being asked to take up the slack, according to a state official with the American Red Cross.
American Red Cross Donor Recruitment Representative Lindsey Zogleman, Wichita, has announced that special blood drives are being set up around this region to help make up the difference.
“The latest winter storm on the east coast is causing more blood drive cancellations and the American Red Cross is urging people in unaffected areas of the country to schedule a blood donation in the coming days.
“Earlier this week the Red Cross issued a nationwide appeal for blood donors to boost a dwindling blood supply. Winter weather caused thousands of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected throughout the eastern half of the country. The latest snowfall has worsened the situation, with more blood drives cancelled and a total of about 16,400 blood and platelet donations not collected over the last several weeks. The Red Cross has not seen its blood supply drop this dramatically at this time of year over the past 10 years,” according to the information from Zogleman.
Local drives that are planned include:
• Feb. 11 — Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Dominic Room, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Feb. 22 — Barton County Community College, Kirkman Room, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Feb. 24 — Larned Community Blood Drive, Larned Community Center, 1500 Toles, noon – 6 p.m.
• Feb. 25 — St. John Community Blood Drive, IOOF Gym, 700 E. First, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
These are in addition to the next local regularly scheduled Red Cross Blood Drive that is set for March 28.