When winter weather forces a blood drive cancellation, the impact is more than just a canceled appointment – it means less blood products available for patient emergencies here and across the country.

 Right now, the Red Cross needs the help of healthy donors to overcome donation shortfalls from recent heavy snows, ice storms and freezing temperatures in parts of the country. Every day, even during severe weather, thousands of patients rely on lifesaving blood donations. patients like Tina Rocco, who hemorrhaged after childbirth. Help can’t wait.

Rocco knows firsthand how important it is to have blood on hospital shelves. After welcoming baby Gemma by cesarean section, she began hemorrhaging badly and was rushed back into the operating room. “I was later told it was several pints of blood and an amazing doctor that saved my life,” Rocco said. “That allowed me to hold my first daughter and go home all together as a family of three.”

Before that day, Rocco hadn’t known anyone who needed blood transfusions. Now, this grateful mother says, “You truly never know when you, or someone you love, might need it.”

You can give blood at the following locations:

Bryan County --

Richmond Hill -- March 2,  8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Richmond Hill High School, 1 Wildcat Drive.

Chatham County -- 

Pooler -- March 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., First Baptist Church - Pooler, 204 US Hwy 80 W.

Savannah -- March 1, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Savannah, 520 Washington Ave. and  March 1, 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave.