Centers send out calls for blood donations

Blood donations are in short supply following the Fourth of July holiday, according to the American Red Cross and Miller-Keystone Blood Center.

The American Red Cross issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.

According to a Red Cross press release, about 450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday with activities and travel. This led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients in a single week, causing the Red Cross to now have less than a three-day supply of most blood types available — and less than a two-day supply of type O blood — for patients.

At least a five-day supply is desired.

“Medical emergencies and critical treatments don’t stop for holiday celebrations. Patients depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Right now, the Red Cross only has less than a three-day supply when we need a five-day supply to be prepared for all situations that require blood products. To help meet this need, we’ve added about 8,000 additional appointments at blood donation centers and community blood drives over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. But we need people to fill those appointments. Please join us today.”

Miller-Keystone Blood Center officials said while all blood types are currently needed, it is in urgent need the O-negative and A-negative blood types.

“Just one major trauma will completely deplete the community blood supply, putting area patients at risk,” officials said.

In June, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign to encourage donors — especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years — to give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months. Through the campaign, the letters A, B and O — letters that make up the main blood groups — disappeared from popular brands to symbolize what happens when blood goes missing from hospital shelves during blood shortages.

Despite an encouraging response to the campaign, blood donations still fell short of expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than needed, including about 300 fewer in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Blood Services Region, and causing a significant drawdown of the Red Cross blood supply.

“Blood is only available when generous blood and platelet donors roll up a sleeve to give, and right now, all donors — especially those who have never given or haven’t given in a while — are urged to make an appointment to give today,” Numark said.