Summer donor drought drains Texas blood supply
The blood supply has hit a dry spell.
Health officials with Texas’ Carter BloodCare warn blood resources take a drastic drop in the summer. This is largely due to the absence of high school blood drives over the break; these student drives collect 25% of the blood available for local patients.
Summer travel and vacation activities also can lead residents to delay donations.
This drop has serious consequences. Surgeries and medical procedures – including cancer treatments and organ transplants – can be postponed until blood is available. Mass casualty events, such as tornadoes or shootings, also would require several units of blood – already donated, tested and immediately available – to treat patients.
Carter BloodCare officials say all blood types are needed at this time. Demand is urgent for O negative, the only blood type used for treating premature babies, and O positive, which supports trauma patients with critical bleeding injuries.
Blood donors help people hurt in car wrecks, children fighting cancer, new moms having difficult deliveries, burn patients and older Texans with age-related health issues.
Because of community need, Carter BloodCare is offering exclusive thank-you incentives for donors in July:
- All who donate on Mondays or Fridays in July earn a $25 e-gift card.
- Everyone who donates with Carter BloodCare in July gets a stainless steel canteen, while supplies last.
Support the community and sign up to donate with Carter BloodCare. For times and details, visit CarterBloodCare.org or call 800-366-2834.
About Carter BloodCare
Carter BloodCare is an independent community blood center providing transfusion resources in 59 counties of North, Central and East Texas to support more than 225 medical facilities. Since its start in 1951, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 450,000 doses of blood and blood components annually to meet the medical treatment needs of local patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood components, as well as cellular therapy and clinical apheresis. Tu centro de sangre comunitario.