It’s time to Roll Up Your Sleeve.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is joining forces with the American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers to urge eligible blood donors to roll up their sleeves and donate blood during the Roll Up Your Sleeve 2022 campaign.
American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern said her organization is currently facing a critical need for life-saving blood.
“Right now, the Red Cross is experiencing its worst blood shortage in over a decade,” she said during a call with reporters. “Our hospitals are having to make really difficult decisions as to who is going to get blood transfusions and who is going to have to wait until the blood is available.”
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VA Secretary Denis McDonough said the department teamed up with the American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers’ regional blood collection organizations in December. The department is exercising its “fourth mission” to back up the country’s health care systems in times of emergency.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, McGovern said the Red Cross has seen about a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood.
“This problem has become worse because of the rapid spread of the omicron variant and it's been compounded by the brutal weather we’ve been experiencing,” she said.
Recent winter weather across the country has led to the cancellation of 600 Red Cross blood drives, causing the loss of 20,000 units of blood and plasma donations, McGovern said. She predicted more weather-related cancellations in the coming weeks.
“Simply put, we need more blood donations to ensure our nation’s veterans and all patients receive the care they need,” she said.
McDonough said the VA is “thrilled” to be partnered with the American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers in the effort to combat the nation’s blood shortage.
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“The fact is donating blood saves lives,” he said.
McDonough said he gives blood as frequently as he can and just made a donation.
“Having just given, I won’t be able to give next week when we have our drive in D.C., but I will be giving early next month,” he said.
CEO of America’s Blood Centers Kate Fry Early called veterans some of the nation’s most dedicated blood donors.
“To date, more than 1,000 units of blood have been donated with an independent blood center as part of the Roll Up Your Sleeve campaign and we expect thousands of more donations during the rest of February and March,” she said.
McGovern said the Red Cross has a long history of helping to care for the nation’s veterans and their families that stretches back to the Civil War when its founder Clara Barton helped care for troops.
“During the last fiscal year, the American Red Cross provided more than 560,000 emergency communications and support services to members of our armed forces, their families, and our country’s veterans,” she noted.
In 2021, the Red Cross provided 58 different VA medical centers with almost 68,000 blood products, McGovern said, adding that she is the daughter and wife of veterans and the mother of an active duty Airman.
“This part of the Red Cross mission is especially meaningful for me,” he said.
Currently, 88 VA facilities have hosted or will host blood drives, Nationwide, the campaign has held 221 blood drives since it began. Donors may give blood no matter their COVID-19 vaccination status.
To find blood donation locations in your community visit RedCrossBlood.org or Americasblood.org to make an appointment. Individuals can mention the VA “Roll Up Your Sleeve 2022” or use #ROLLUPYOURSLEEVEVA2022 at their community blood collection site and their donation will be linked to the VA national campaign.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.