Blood banks across the region need donors

Area blood banks are experiencing a shortage, according to Inova and the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross attributes the shortage to fewer donors than needed donating blood this summer, drawing down the national blood supply and reducing distributions of some of the most needed blood types to hospitals. Hurricane Idalia further strained the blood supply with blood drive cancellations and reduced blood and platelet donations in affected areas.  

Inova announced an urgent need for Type O donors last month. Still, they would like donors with any type of blood to donate to support patient care and increase their blood supply, according to Tracy J. Connell, Inova spokeswoman.

Inova Blood Donor Services supports a Level I Trauma Center and two Level III Trauma Centers.  Maintaining a sufficient blood supply is critical to the safety and well-being of the community. 

“It is imperative that we do everything we can to increase and maintain the blood supply to support our community’s sickest patients,” said Inova officials. “The need for blood never stops and there is no substitute for human blood when needed for a patient.”

The Red Cross said that at this time, donors of all blood types are urgently needed, and there is an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood donors to make an appointment to give now to ensure patients across the country continue to receive critical medical care. 

When Idalia slammed into the Southeast – leading to widespread power outages, travel hazards, and flooding – the storm also canceled over a dozen blood drives. It caused hundreds of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. This compounded a shortfall of about 30,000 donations in August. Right now, blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations.

Prospective donors can schedule an appointment to give by calling 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372) or visiting inovablood.org, or downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

You can also find upcoming blood donation opportunities by entering your zip code at RedCrossBlood.org

 A blood donor card, driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger must also meet certain height and weight requirements.

In thanks for helping rebuild the blood supply, all who come to give through Sept. 18 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last. Those who come to give throughout September will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts. Plus, they’ll be automatically entered to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/RaceToGive.