Vitalant, a nonprofit blood services provider, has declared that there is a blood supply shortage that qualifies as a national emergency and urges residents to donate blood.
Vitalant has seen a 50% decline in blood donations and drives from prepandemic levels in 2019 to present, while the need for blood has returned to a preCOVID-19 pandemic level. Vitalant is currently trying to provide the same amount of blood from about 90,000 fewer donations.
The biggest factor contributing to the shortage is the shift to virtual workforces. Most blood drives previously occurred at businesses, and with many people still working remotely, these drives are not occurring.
Winter weather has also contributed to the shortage, with blizzards and severe cold causing over 2,000 donations to go uncollected in December and early January nationwide.
Vitalant had been making critical appeals for blood since mid-June, but in December it escalated these to emergency levels as blood supplies dipped to the lowest level of the year.
The period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day usually sees the lowest number of blood donations while being immediately followed by the highest blood usage month of the year. Many people postpone essential surgeries until after the holidays, and these add to hospitals’ surgery schedules along with emergency surgeries. Arizona’s population is often at its highest as well during this time due to winter visitors.
This crucial need for blood after the winter holidays makes January National Blood Donor Month. More blood transfusions are typically needed in January than during any other month of the year.
The highest numbers of donations result from high school- and college sponsored blood drives. Winter vacation, as well as cold and flu season, puts a significant damper in these donations.
“New donors and those who haven’t donated recently are critical to helping end this shortage. Patient needs continue but societal shifts have kept blood donations from rebounding to pre-pandemic levels,” Cliff Numark, Vitalant senior vice president, stated in a press release. “Starting the new year by scheduling a blood donation can make an incredible impact in your community.”
Donated blood is separated into three components to best benefit multiple patients. Red blood cells are used for those suffering from severe blood loss, whether from internal bleeding, surgery, an accident or anaemia. Plasma provides clotting factors that keep people from bleeding to death and is administered to those with internal bleeding, as well as to burn patients. Platelets are given to cancer patients to replace the naturally-occurring platelets in their blood destroyed by chemotherapy treatments.
“You never know when you’re going to find yourself in a situation where you need an emergency transfusion,” Sue Thew of Vitalant said. “Typically, tragedy strikes without a moment’s notice and it’s the blood that’s already on the shelves that saves lives.”
While individuals with type O blood are universal donors, people with all blood types are encouraged to donate. Those who are thinking of donating are also encouraged to make appointments to avoid long wait times and to help plan for resources.
One Arizona child, 6-year-old Braden, was diagnosed last May with acute myeloid leukemia and a myeloid sarcoma in his jaw. Braden needed over 30 blood transfusions during his six-month chemotherapy treatment and is now cancer free.
Upcoming blood drives in the Verde Valley include:
Friday, Jan. 27: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Living Water Foursquare Church, 1380 E. Mingus Ave, Cottonwood
Saturday, Jan. 28: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Living Water Foursquare Church, 1380 E. Mingus Ave, Cottonwood Monday, Jan. 30: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., C3 Cottonwood Church, 1580 E. Fir St., Cottonwood
Tuesday, Jan. 31: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mingus Union High School, 1801 E. Fir St., Cottonwood
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona
For more information visit vitalant.org
