Vitalant to host Winters Community Blood Drive Nov. 20

Yolo County residents interested in donating blood can visit Vitalant’s Winters Community Blood Drive from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20 at the Winters Community Hall — located at 201 Railroad Ave. — to ensure blood supplies last through the holiday season.

“It is especially important to donate now as the holidays approach because blood collections always take a dip as people get busier shopping and cold/flu seasons begins to take hold,” a press release from Vitalant emphasized.

The community blood drive will be in memory of Adam Davis, a community member who passed away from a rare autoimmune disease seven years ago.

Jacqueline Davis, Adam’s wife, argued that “those who donate blood give hope to families caught in terrible circumstances.”

“In our case, blood transfusions allowed us to have more time with Adam, a precious gift,” she remarked. “We encourage those who can to donate blood for others in need.”

Whole blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, be in general good health and bring a photo I.D. Under-age individuals should bring a signed Vitalant parental consent form available by visiting vitalant.org under the resources/donor forms tab, according to the press release.

Blood donors are encouraged to make an appointment by visiting donors.vitalant.org and using blood drive code SMFM164 or by calling Vitalant at 877-258-4825 and mentioning the blood drive code. Walk-ins will be accommodated but appointments will be taken first.

“Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood,” the press release emphasized. “There is no substitute for blood. Your donation can transform up to three lives.”

For more information and to learn about eligibility criteria for other donation types, visit vitalant.org/donate/types-of-blood-donation.

Furthermore, Vitalant — a nonprofit blood services provider — will thank blood donors by ensuring all donors who give with Vitalant in November will be entered to win one of five $5,000 prepaid gift cards.

“Blood donations in November are especially critical for maintaining a sufficient blood supply for patients leading up to Thanksgiving week and into December when busy holiday schedules sharply reduce the number of available donors,” the press release highlighted. “Emergencies and ongoing medical treatments that require blood don’t take a holiday break.”

The release noted that donors of all types, especially type O, are needed.

“Type O is what doctors often reach for in emergencies and to treat infants,” the release stated. “November is National Prematurity Awareness Month, serving as an important reminder that even the littlest patients rely on volunteer blood donations. Premature infants commonly need blood transfusions to fight anemia and other complications nationwide and more than 100,000 units of blood help neonatal patients each year.”

For more information, visit vitalant.org.

National Blood Shortage

American Red Cross declared a national blood shortage on Sept. 11 citing a “critically low blood supply level that dropped nearly 25% since early August.”

“Since the plea for more blood donors went out, the Red Cross has seen an increase in donations and is thankful to everyone who has rolled up a sleeve to help boost the blood supply,” a Sept. 20 post on its website stated. “When supplies are low it can often take weeks for inventories to rebound.”

At the time, The Red Cross estimated they must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month for the blood supply to reach sufficient levels and meet hospital and patient needs.

Currently, only 8% of blood centers across the country have a blood supply of three or more days while 41% have a blood supply of one to two days and 7% have a supply of zero to one day, according to America’s Blood Centers.

“Centers with a blood supply of three or more days have enough blood to meet normal operating demands,” America’s Blood Centers’ website stated. “Those with only a 2-day supply are running low and need blood donations. Centers with a day or less of blood are critically low on blood and need donations as soon as possible.”

The organization noted that 44% of United States blood centers have not yet reported a blood supply level.

To learn more about the nation’s blood supply level, visit americasblood.org/for-donors/americas-blood-supply.