Vitalant, a nonprofit blood services provider, has declared an emergency blood shortage and is urging all eligible donors to donate blood this July to avoid treatment delays for patients who require vital transfusions.
The continued seasonal reduction in blood donations since May, exacerbated by the Fourth of July vacation week, has severely reduced the available blood supply for patients by more than 25%, resulting in a less than three-day supply of most blood types.
Maintaining an adequate blood flow is crucial for assisting patients in the aftermath of accidents and other crises, as well as for treating cancer and other chronic disorders.
“If not enough blood is available at any given moment, delays in patient care can have life-threatening consequences,” said Vitalant Chief Medical and Scientific Officer Dr. Ralph Vassallo. “By making an appointment today and donating tomorrow, next week, even a couple weeks from now, you become a lifeline for patients.”
Fewer donors are available due to summer vacations – and fewer groups hold blood drives – but the need for blood can also increase during what many hospitals refer to as “trauma season,” when outdoor activities and accidents and injuries increase.
Steve Bruemmer is grateful for the ability to donate blood after more than 30 units of donated blood helped him recover from a shark attack while swimming off the coast of California last summer. Knowing how many other individuals rely on lifesaving blood donations has rekindled his resolve to help others.
“We owe it to each other and rely on each other to do our part,” Bruemmer said. “Now I want to be the good Samaritan that donates blood.”
All blood types are required, however type O is the most commonly transfused. In an emergency, O-negative may assist any patient, while O-positive can assist anyone with a positive blood type.
Platelet donations are critical for cancer patients as well as those undergoing open-heart surgery and transplants. Platelets are always in short supply and must be used within a week after donation to provide the best potential patient outcomes.
Thousands of donation appointments are available nationwide in the next two weeks.
Vitalant is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise, and world-renowned research to hospitals and patients across the United States.
Individuals who willingly donate blood, volunteer, and contribute financially are critical to our lifesaving mission.
To schedule an appointment, download and use the Vitalant app or visit www.donors.vitalant.org and search for available times.
Anyone interested in hosting a blood drive can fill out an inquiry form on www.vitalant.org, which will put potential hosts in contact with company representatives.
The local Vitalant region covers southern Nevada and northwest Arizona, and includes Laughlin, Kingman, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City.