Blood and platelet donors are needed now! Severe winter weather across the country has forced the cancellation of blood drives, resulting in about 20,000 blood and platelet donations going uncollected since the beginning of the year. As the threat of more storms persists, this could have a serious impact on patients. If you can travel safely, we need you to please donate blood as soon as possible. Schedule an appointment:

Tips for staying warm indoors: - Wear several thin layers and cozy socks. - Use a space heater, but keep it off the carpet. - Seal door drafts with a towel or old blanket. - Reverse the motion of your ceiling fan. - Open your curtains or shades during the day to let natural light and heat in.

Did you hear? Winter is sticking around for six more weeks, thanks to Punxsutawney Phil! If you have to drive in snow or freezing temperatures this week, be aware of wet and icy roads and make sure to pack these things in your car. ⬇️

Knowing CPR and how to use an AED could save the life of a beloved teacher, coach, custodian or even student. That's because cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere. Thanks to the new HEARTS Act, AEDs and CPR training will be more accessible in public places like schools across the U.S. We are proud to be part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which has been advocating for this lifesaving change. If you think someone is in cardiac arrest, follow these steps: 1. Call 911 and have someone grab an AED if one is available. 2. Immediately start CPR and continue until the AED arrives. 3. Remove clothing covering the person's chest. 4. Turn on the AED and follow the prompts. 5. Attach one pad to the upper right side of the chest, and the other to the lower left side. 6. Plug the pad cable into the AED. 7. Make sure no one is touching the person and say, 'Clear!' 8. Push the shock button so the AED can deliver a shock if needed. 9. Re-start CPR.

Join us in congratulating Jacob S., the lucky blood donor who won a trip for two to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans after giving blood with the @RedCrossNTX! 🎉 Tonight, Jacob and his wife, Janan, will be cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles live from the Big Easy. It's the opportunity of a lifetime for this dedicated blood donor, who's been donating blood for over a decade. "I've been a ground and flight medic, working on ambulances, airplanes and helicopters, and understand and appreciate the crucial role blood donations play in patient care," Jacob said. "It's my privilege to be allowed to care for people, and it's been my honor to give blood knowing how directly and heavily it impacts outcomes." We’re grateful for his commitment to giving and for our partnership with the @NFL that allowed us to offer this opportunity to blood donors who stepped up to help patients in need during National Blood Donor Month in January. Enjoy the game, Jacob and Janan! 🏈 #SuperBowl #BloodDonor #DonateBlood #GiveBlood #BloodDonor #DonateBloodSaveLives #GiveBloodSaveLives #SuperBowlLIX #SuperBowl2025

Steve Martin was playing pickleball when he suddenly began feeling dizzy. After telling his partner, he collapsed on the court and went into cardiac arrest. "I was told I was flat on my back and lifeless," Steve said. The seven people on staff at the recreation center that day immediately sprung into action. They called 911 and worked together to provide CPR for nine minutes until EMS arrived. "An AED shocked me twice, and the CPR kept me alive," Steve said. "I woke up driving into the emergency ambulance bay at the hospital.” Steve firmly believes that if those staff members didn't act as quickly and confidently as they did, he may not be alive today. The @RedCross_NC presented all seven of them with Red Cross Lifesaving Awards to honor and thank them. Whether you're at home, work or play, you can help keep your community safe by learning CPR. Sign up for a class this Heart Month:

Pets are family, too! That’s why Red Crossers Thea Wasche and Mary Nichols are committed to keeping families together at our shelters in Southern California. As pet liaisons, they travel from shelter to shelter to create plans with families and their pets and ensure they feel welcome and comfortable throughout their stay. They also work closely with Red Cross shelter managers and external partners to maintain consistent collaboration throughout the response. These plans consider local regulations, agreements with individual shelter facilities, space constraints, and health or hygiene concerns. “Pets are part of the families, and we’re taking care of the pets just like the family members,” Thea said. “Knowing that they can evacuate to a safe place with their pet has allowed a smoother process.” Some 340 people still remain in our care at Red Cross emergency shelters. Volunteer caseworkers are continuously helping shelter residents plan their next steps and connect them with other community resources. This includes working with partners to expand services for short-term rentals and providing shelter residents with transportation and a clear plan for longer-term housing solutions as shelter operations change.

Terri Mehling finds joy behind the wheel. Her love for the open road has taken her to every state in the country and just about every volunteer opportunity with the Red Cross. Terri has volunteered her time with @RedCrossCAR since 2002. She has primarily served as an emergency response vehicle driver bringing food, water and supplies to communities in need after a disaster. The sight of Terri driving a Red Cross vehicle isn't uncommon. She has driven them to support blood drives, represent her chapter in local parades, and lately, to serve our veterans. When a local VA medical center in Virginia lost its shuttle service, Terri and her fellow volunteers stepped up to help. Terri is among the Red Cross drivers transporting vets to important doctor's appointments. "I try to give a smile and get a smile from everyone," Terri said. "The men and women who get on the medical center’s shuttle have served and sacrificed for our country and I am thankful that I can provide this simple service for them.” We're grateful for volunteers like Terri who are always exploring new ways to use their passions and interest to give back to their communities.

Nearly a year ago, Ann Laraia received the worst call of her life. Her brother and sister’s shared home was engulfed in flames, and they were both trapped inside. Living almost nine hours away, all she could do was stay on the phone with her neighbor and pray for a miracle. Ann’s sister, Diana, remembers hearing the fire alarms and her brother, Gary, urging her to get out. She tried to find him, but the smoke was too heavy. “I kept yelling for him, ‘Gary! Gary!’ And he said, ‘Di, get out!’ That’s all I heard,” Diana said. Unfortunately, Diana passed out while trying to escape. First responders managed to rescue her by chipping away ice from the door. She was immediately airlifted to Maine Medical Center with severe burns and a broken leg. Tragically, Gary did not survive the fire. Red Crosser Brian Bouley lived nearby and witnessed the fire. He alerted the @RedCrossNNE disaster team, and they connected with Diana’s family. “They actually came to the hospital to meet with our oldest brother and me to offer assistance,” Ann said. “Then, they assigned us a case manager, who was an absolute sweetheart. She followed through with multiple phone calls and emails. She sent me a list of organizations that could be of assistance as we went through this ordeal.” Diana spent several months in the hospital recovering, spending the first month on a ventilator. As the family celebrated her slow progress, they mourned the loss of their brother Gary. Local volunteers helped them every step of the way, providing community resources, mental health support, and financial assistance to replace some of Diana’s items and take care of some of Gary’s remaining expenses. “Diana and Gary didn’t have much, but financially it would have been harder without the Red Cross. Every little bit helped,” Ann said. “It was good to have the support there because when Diana did start waking up, we knew that she would need everything. The Red Cross was wonderful in getting us started. They helped us get her glasses and some clothes. We’re extremely thankful.” In October, Diana finally settled into a new place, and Brian, the Red Crosser who initially alerted the team, made sure to visit her. It was a full-circle moment he was grateful to be a part of. ❤️

Dr. Charles R. Drew's work saved lives. This surgeon, educator, and pioneering medical researcher is the reason the modern blood donation process exists today. His discoveries improved techniques for blood storage and understanding of plasma, and helped develop large-scale blood banks. During WWII, Dr. Drew became the medical director of the Blood for Britain project. He created a blood bank and set up a system for recruiting volunteer donors — work that helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians. Dr. Drew believed his work would break through the racially segregated society he lived in. He protested against blood donor segregation and campaigned for better treatment of Black doctors, surgeons, and medical students. Blood collection became more accessible through Dr. Drew's innovation. In fact, he introduced the bloodmobile, which helped reach new donors in the community. In 1941, Dr. Drew became the first medical director of the American Red Cross National Blood Collection Program. We're proud to honor his life and legacy this Black History Month. Because of Dr. Drew's revolutionary research, countless lives of people with cancer, trauma injuries, and chronic diseases continue to be saved today.

Hi there. Under new FDA blood donation guidance, all donors answer the same questions regardless of gender. Questions regarding a donor’s health history, including pregnancy, are important to ensure donor eligibility as well as the health and safety of the patient receiving the blood product. Additionally, the FDA requires eligibility questions are asked every time an individual comes to donate. While we respect your personal decision, we hope you will reconsider giving blood to help hospital patients in the future. To not give in protest could potentially limit the supply of lifesaving blood and affect patients in need.

No matter your love language, learning lifesaving skills shows you care. 🫶🏽 Knowing first aid, CPR and how to use an AED means you can be there for your loved ones during an emergency. Keep your relationships strong and take a class this Heart Month: #HeartMonth

We love making meaningful connections with the people we help after a disaster! 🥰 While Red Cross volunteers were visiting neighborhoods in Southern California affected by wildfires, they met Ryan and Alcena Hoagues. They evacuated their home in Altadena during the fires and were fortunate to find it intact when they returned. Volunteers provided them with clean-up supplies to help tackle the ash and smoke the fires left on their home. They also learned that Ryan is an avid blood donor who has donated 72 times in the last 15 years. “I do it because it’s something you can’t replace with anything else," he said. Weeks later, more than 520 Red Cross responders continue to support people affected by the fires — caring for them in shelters, providing financial assistance at disaster recovery centers and distributing thousands of supplies. So far, we’ve provided more than 102,000 relief items including masks, gloves, tarps, and water throughout affected communities.

RT @RedCrossNCGC: The American Red Cross is deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred at Reagan National Airport last night. At…

A simple comment on social media might have just saved Jerry Lambert's life. Just after Christmas, Jon McCollum, a community disaster program specialist with the @RedCross_NC, saw a Facebook post from a woman seeking smoke alarm recommendations. Among the comments was 72-year-old Jerry, who shared that he needed one. A week later, our volunteers installed four new smoke alarms in Jerry’s home. On Jan. 15, Jon learned that Jerry’s home unfortunately caught on fire after a lit burn barrel in the backyard spread to the house. Thanks to the newly installed smoke alarms, Jerry and his dogs were alerted and able to safely escape. Jerry is now staying with his neighbors, who also had new smoke alarms installed by our volunteers days after the fire. For Jon, it’s experiences like this that motivate him every day to serve his community. “You can always replace material things, but you can't replace someone's life.” ❤️

Keep your winter walks short to help prevent your pet from getting hypothermia and frostbite. It's actually a myth that your pet's fur will protect them from cold related injuries and illnesses. If you notice any of these signs, take them out of the cold right away and call your vet. - For frostbite, you can spray the affected area with warm water or lightly apply a warm compress while being careful not to rub it. - For hypothermia, take your pet's temperature (below 98.5° F indicates hypothermia) and wrap them in a blanket with warm water bottles nearby.

Recovery is just beginning for many in Southern California after several massive wildfires destroyed more than 17,000 structures. As communities reopen, hundreds of Red Cross responders continue to work around the clock to provide critical relief and recovery assistance to those affected. Here’s a glimpse of how our teams are helping right now: • Volunteers are in communities distributing emergency supplies and sharing information about Red Cross financial assistance with residents and community partners. • In emergency shelters, volunteers are providing food, shelter, and emotional support to people unable to return home. • Caseworkers are also helping residents plan their next steps and address other needs such as transportation, health care and childcare. • For people who need extra support with their short-term housing situations, we’re working with partners to ensure they receive the assistance they need. This work is only possible because of YOU — our volunteers, financial donors, social media supporters, and partners. Thank you for your generosity and grace as so many grapple with loss and the uncertainty of what comes next.