To help prevent blood shortages this winter, the American Red Cross is trying a new approach.
The Red Cross is calling for winter heroes to host blood drives.
Spokesperson Joe Zydlo says 170 more blood drive hosts are needed in this region alone from December through February.
"When we hit the month of November, usually mid-November through the holidays, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, we really struggle. That usually leads to early January, an emergency need for blood. We have those issues. I think we're trying to hit it off at the pass, so to speak."
Zydlo says a good way to recruit donors is the Sleeves Up campaign, which is a way for people who can't donate for whatever reason, to find substitute donors.
"Through that program, what you can do is you can encourage others to donate on your behalf. Encourage them to say, 'hey, you can donate at this drive or you can donate on behalf of me, in honor of me, though I can't do it. You're sort of representing or filling in for me, if you will.'"
Zydlo says is easier than you might expect since a Red Cross representative works with the host every step of the way.
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