March may be a month to watch college basketball, but the American Red Cross is looking for blood donors to get in the game for national Red Cross month.
After the storms that marked the start of the year led to fewer blood and platelet donations than were necessary, the Red Cross is asking healthy people to become blood donors and make “life saving” donations this month.
Earlier this year, cold weather and “widespread” flu drove down participation at the drives, according to the Red Cross.
In January, the Red Cross said it had distributed more blood and platelets than what had been donated.
More than 16,500 blood and platelet donations went uncollected just in January in the Virginia and North Carolina region.
There are dozens of blood drives around Hampton Roads this national Red Cross month. To find one near you, go to the Red Cross blood donation website.
