Red Cross seeking blood donations as temperatures drop

Inclement weather sent a lot of folks scrambling to the store to get milk and bread, but not many think to donate blood before a winter storm.
 
Kristen Stancil with the Red Cross spoke on the Afternoon News Wrap this week and she says the organization needs emergency blood and platelet donations, especially during the winter months.
 
"People become busy starting in November with their holiday activities and there's also seasonal illnesses as you get in to the winter months. There's also inclement weather, so that can prevent people from donating," she said. "Winter is definitely one of the times we generally see our donations decline."
 
Stancil also said donors who didn't want to wait could use the Red Cross app to cut down on their wait time.
 
"You can make an appointment through our Red Cross blood donor app, find locations near you and set up your appointment," Stancil said.
 
Stancil said the appointments usually last a little more than an hour, so if you want to save about 15 minutes, you can use the Rapid Pass.
 
"You can actually complete all of the health history questions that you would normally do when you come in to the donation site from the convenience of your home or work computer," she said. This can only be done the day of the appointments , she added.
 
Stancil also said there were some upcoming blood drives in Gainesville as early as Monday from noon to 7 p.m. at the Gainesville Blood Donation Center and on Tuesday in Flowery Branch at the Sterling on the Lake Clubhouse from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. More blood drives can be located here.