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Less than two full months after the American Red Cross declared its second ever national blood supply crisis, the agency has announced a new partnership in order to encourage blood donations.
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The Red Cross is partnering with Hello Kitty and Friends to give anyone who donates from Sept. 1 to Sept. 20 a Red Cross x Hello Kitty plush mascot and sticker pack.
The Red Cross is accepting blood, platelet and AB Elite plasma donations.
High summer demand for hospital and trauma care combined with extreme heat, summer travel and health disruptions such as the cyclosporiasis outbreak led to a drop in donor turnout, the organization said in a release. Donations hit a four-year low, with the blood supply dropping nearly 25% in June.
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Type O blood is especially needed, with some inventories down to less than a one-day supply, the agency said.
Prior to donating, the Red Cross advises donors to get a good night’s rest, eat a full meal of iron-rich foods like eggs, meat and spinach, and hydrate with 16 ounces of extra water.
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For information on where to donate, visit the Red Cross website.