Since the Red Cross issued its first-ever blood crisis alert, severe winter weather has further complicated efforts to rebuild the blood supply. Hundreds of blood drives have been canceled across the country due to winter storms in January, forcing about 6,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. 

As February approaches, and the effects from the spread of the omicron variant and winter weather persist, people are urged to make an appointment now to give bloodor plateletsin the weeks ahead by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visitingRedCrossBlood.orgor calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

As a thank-you for coming out to help save lives during this blood crisis,thosewho come to give blood or platelets February 1-28, 2022,will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, thanks to Amazon (Terms apply.Visit rcblood.org/together.)