Blood donors will be awarded on Tuesday with tickets to a Padres game as the Red Cross faces a national blood shortage.
The San Diego Padres is hosting the Padres Spring Blood Drive in partnership with the American Red Cross until 6 p.m at the Budweiser Loft at Petco Park. Those who donate blood will receive a pair of early-season Padres tickets.
Free parking will be available at the Premier Parking Lot.
The overall blood donation has declined by 10 percent since March 2020. During the pandemic, the American Red Cross declared a first-ever blood crisis amid the omicron surge.
According to the American Red Cross, there has been a 62 percent drop in college and high school blood drives due to the pandemic. Students accounted for 25 percent of all donors in 2019, and just 10 percent during the pandemic.
The Red Cross, which supplies 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply, has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals as a result of the shortage. In fact, some hospitals may not receive 1 in 4 blood products they need.
“The Red Cross blood supply remains incredibly vulnerable – especially as doctors begin to resume elective surgeries previously delayed by the Omicron variant,” American Red Cross said in a press release. “It’s critical that individuals schedule a blood or platelet donation immediately to help ensure patients get the care they need as soon as possible.”
All throughout March, donors will be given a $10 e-gift card from Fantastics, and will be entered to win a trip to the MLB All-Star Game.
The American Red Cross asks participants to schedule an appointment online, via their app or by calling 1(800)733-2767.
