BLOOD DONATION

Gardner-White is partnering with the American Red Cross to host several blood drives throughout Metro Detroit.

You hear it often: There’s a need for blood donors -- but there’s apparently a particular need for the Black community to step up and donate.

A Southeast Michigan dispensary is prepared to offer free marijuana to adults who prove they donated blood or plasma in an effort to aid a severe national blood and plasma shortage.

The American Red Cross has now declared a national blood crisis and said the nation is facing the worst shortage of blood in more than a decade.

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis for the first time as the country faces its worst blood shortage in more than a decade.

Gardner-White is partnering with the American Red Cross to host several blood drives at stores throughout Metro Detroit.

Hospitals across the country are facing dangerously low supplies of blood.

A national blood shortage is now impacting hospitals around Metro Detroit. Some hospitals have been forced to make changes and are asking the public to roll up their sleeves to help out.

The American Red Cross is urging blood donors to make an appointment as soon as possible to help address a national blood shortage.

A severe shortage of blood across the country, including at Beaumont Health, could have significant impact on patient care, including surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic medical conditions and traumatic injuries.

Gardner-White Furniture is hosting blood drives at several of their Metro Detroit stores this week.

Collecting enough blood donations to meet the constant need was a challenge for the American Red Cross before the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why one Metro Detroit family wants to make sure that blood is always there for anyone who needs it. “Without that transfusion, we wouldn’t have been able to make the step two, step three, step four.”Throughout her treatment, blood was critical. The family speaks about their gratitude for her blood donors every day. READ: American Red Cross hosting blood drive in Metro Detroit this weekAppointments are strongly encouraged.

Dan Graustein has been donating blood since the 1970s. “It’s the most important thing that I do because it has potential of saving somebody’s life,” he said. “In 1974, there’s a blood competition between Michigan and Ohio State, same week that the football game is, and they compete on who can donate more blood,” he said. He said that in the past, the American Red Cross would donate your blood to one individual person. “I have donated white blood cells, plasma platelets,” he said.

What about cord blood? After cutting and clamping the umbilical cord, your doctor will collect the cord blood in a sterile container. The cord blood is mixed with a preservative and frozen at a cord blood bank until its needed by a patient. Information about the cord blood donation is entered into the NMDPs registry, which can be searched by doctors nationwide. Cord blood donation, by the way, poses no known risk to the mother or infant.

ANN ARBOR – Saint Joseph Mercy Health System has treated its first COVID-19 patient with plasma donated by a recovered individual at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor hospital. Eleven patients at St. Joe’s were among the first to be registered nationally for the trial. Along with St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, three other health system member hospitals are participating in the program, including St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, St. Mary Mercy Livonia and Mercy Health Muskegon. In addition to the Mayo Clinic’s convalescent plasma program, St. Joe’s Ann Arbor is also participating in Gilead’s Remdesivir Expanded Access Program. Similar to the plasma program, only patients with life-threatening symptoms who require ventilator support are eligible for the remdesivir program.

As of March 23, there have been 7,000 Red Cross blood drive cancellations around the U.S., resulting in more than 200,000 fewer blood donations, officials said. With cancellations on the rise, Red Cross is facing a severe shortage of blood, officials said. The Red Cross will continue to host blood drives to provide much needed blood to those in need, officials said. Blood drives are exempt from bans on social gatherings, as they provide necessary resources that can’t be bought or manufactured. Click here to make an appointment to donate blood to the Red Cross in your area.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Versiti Blood Center of Michigan will remain open amid the state’s “stay-at-home” order due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. RELATED: Coronavirus in Michigan: Here’s where we stand as of Tuesday morningUnder Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s executive “stay-at-home” order, residents may leave their homes for Healthcare and Public Health Operations -- which includes visiting blood, plasma and platelet donation centers, officials said. “Versiti Blood Center of Michigan supplies blood to nearly 80 hospitals across the state," said Versiti Chief Medical Officer Thomas Abshire. Those interested in donating can schedule an appointment by calling 866-642-5663 or visiting their website here.