This article originally appeared on the blog of Heretic, the magazine of We Are Libertarians.
There are lots of ways for us to help our friends, neighbors, and communities during the difficult challenges that for many have already begun and will likely persist for the next several weeks, or even months. In our Getting Through COVID-19, Together series, we will look at specific ways to do just that.
(If you would like to contribute to this series, please let us know at hereticjournal@gmail.com, or message us on Facebook.)
Replenish the Blood Supply
Since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across America, over 4,000 blood drives have been canceled across the country, resulting in an extremely dangerous shortage in America’s blood banks.
For more information on this shortage, listen to Chris Spangle’s interview with the CEO of the Red Cross in Indiana.
This shortage needs to be reduced, and fast. As the nation heads into Spring and Summer, the chances of destructive and deadly weather events intensifies. Accidents that require blood typically pick up during these months as well. At it’s current level, there is not enough blood to meet a very plausible need.
To help avert this coming crisis, there are two main things you can do:
- Work with the Red Cross and local organization with space to organize a blood drive.
- Find an existing blood drive and donate.
Visit redcross.org for more information. If you can do either of those things, you could quite literally be saving lives.
