Want Super Bowl tickets? A Tri-Cities blood donation could score you some
The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage, with hospitals asking for more blood than is available.
To help encourage people to donate, a drawing is being held to award a trip to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay area to someone who donates before Monday, Jan. 26.
The winner will receive round-trip airfare, two tickets to the Super Bowl, three-night hotel accommodations, a $1,000 gift card for their expenses and access to Super Bowl activities.
Over the past month the Red Cross has seen about a 35% drawn down in blood products and some hospitals are having to triage blood products to make sure they have them for those who need them most, such as accident victims, mothers in childbirth and people with cancer or sickle cell disease.
The shortage is especially serious for platelets, types O, A negative and B negative blood.
“Every donation can be a lifeline for a patient who isn’t able to hold off on critical care,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of Red Cross donor services.
High flu activity across the nation may have sidelined donors in what is being called the worst flu season in nearly 20 years.
In addition, winter weather in parts of the nation have limited blood drives.
If you can’t schedule a blood donation before the Super Bowl drawing, you may be eligible for a $20 e-gift card. Those will be given out Jan. 26 to Feb. 28.
To schedule a donation in the greater Tri-Cities area, go to redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Blood draws are scheduled in the coming days in multiple locations across the Tri-Cities and in Prosser, Eltopia and other Mid-Columbia towns.
