Twin Cities blood donations dangerously low. Here's why and how to help.

Jun. 3--As the coronavirus pandemic and protests concerning the death of George Floyd continue in the Twin Cities, blood donations have reached extremely low levels.

Donation centers are asking individuals who are healthy and feeling well to consider donating blood. With hospitals beginning to offer elective surgeries again that were stalled because of the pandemic, all blood type donations are needed.

Due to the pandemic, less people are donating blood than usual, even more so due to the current protests, said American Red Cross spokeswoman Susan Thesenga.

Memorial Blood Centers were just beginning to offer blood drives again, but were forced to cancel due to civil unrest and protesting, said Wendy Capetz, a spokeswoman for Memorial Blood Centers.

"We're starting to see our blood supply reach a critical level so we need to reverse that now going into the summer so we don't have an additional health crisis," Thesenga said.

At a media briefing Monday afternoon, state health officials also emphasized the need for blood donations and encouraged healthy individuals to donate if they are able.

Having a stable blood supply is essential, Capetz said. Blood donations are needed for surgeries, cancer patients, childbirth and more.

Normally, Memorial Blood Centers have a seven-day blood supply, Capetz said. Right now there is less than a three-day supply.

Both the American Red Cross and Memorial Blood Centers are taking extra precautions concerning the pandemic, including offering appointment scheduling, requiring face masks and taking each donor's temperature.

Additionally, both the American Red Cross and Memorial Blood Centers are collecting COVID-19 convalescent plasma from recovered patients to help those who are currently fighting the virus develop antibodies.

WHERE CAN BLOOD BE DONATED IN THE TWIN CITIES?

-- The American Red Cross has five metro locations located in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Arden Hills and St. Cloud. The American Red Cross blood donor mobile app can also connect residents to blood drives near them. For information, go to their website: www.redcross.org.

-- Memorial Blood Centers has six metro locations located in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Plymouth and Coon Rapids. For information, go to their website: www.mbc.org.

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