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Red Cross is experiencing historically low blood supply levels

Gay and bisexual men were banned from donating blood over concern that HIV could contaminate the blood supply.
Vesna Andjic
/
Getty Images
Gay and bisexual men were banned from donating blood over concern that HIV could contaminate the blood supply.

The Red Cross says it’s experiencing historically low blood supply levels.

The non-profit is urging people to donate blood this holiday season, especially those who’ve never given before.

Meghan Lehman is a spokesperson for the Michigan Region of the Red Cross. She says the donation process takes about an hour from start to finish.

“So, giving blood is really a relatively easy way to make a huge difference in the lives of our neighbors. One donation can save up to three lives.”

Blood donations can be used for cancer patients, car crash survivors, and new mothers who need a blood transfusion after giving birth.

Lehman says people are eligible to give blood regardless of their COVID history and vaccination status.

Laura Herberg is a reporter for 101.9 WDET, telling stories about people inhabiting the Detroit region and the issues that affect us here. She won a Regional Murrow Award for best Hard News story (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio) in 2020 and she was named the Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter for radio broadcasting in 2020, 2018 and 2017. In 2012, she was awarded a SoundCloud Fellowship for her project, “Listen to Detroit.” She also is the creator of Complete Me, a podcast with only three episodes about how she has trouble completing tasks.