Emergency need: Blood supply reaches critical low point

As the summer heat continues to sizzle, it can be tempting to avoid leaving the air conditioning to venture outdoors.

That’s become an issue for those tasked with maintaining the medical blood supply — the American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage across the nation, as the blood supply has fallen by more than 25% since July 1.

“Weather is playing a factor in the need for blood and the decline in donations,” said Beth Sweeney, interim executive director for the southwest chapter of the Indiana Red Cross.

Officials with the American Red Cross are pleading with local residents to make blood donation a priority in the coming weeks.

Heat impacted nearly 100 blood drives during the month of July, and combined with the usual seasonal obstacles of travel and summer activities, led to the shortfall of more than 19,000 donations.

“Much of that has been due to high heat and severe weather. We have people traveling during the summer who are typically donating, so we usually see those numbers go down in the summer. But we have had to cancel some of our blood drives due to extreme heat — across the country and here in Indiana,” Sweeney said.

Hospital demand for blood products remains strong, and products are being sent to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.

Currently, type O inventory is so low, that distributions of this vital blood type are reduced below what hospitals count on.

“It’s critical hospitals have both type O positive and O negative blood ready to go for patients in the most life-threatening situations,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “Type O is especially important for victims of accidents and other trauma who are receiving emergency treatment. Now is the time for donors of all blood types to give and ensure hospital shelves can be restocked before any impact to patient care.”

Blood donations are key to treating patients who have been in an accident or are burn victims, as well as those having heart surgery or organ transplants, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.

“You or someone you know may need blood at some point. It could be anyone from somebody who was in a serious accident who needs those blood donations, someone who has cancer and needs those blood transfusions, maybe a mom who has complications during childbirth,” Sweeney said.

But health officials have been facing a declining supply of blood for years. Over the past two decades, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood About 36,000 units of red blood cells, 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed every day in the country, according to the American Red Cross.

As fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to the blood supply can have dramatic consequences for those patients.

“We need blood on a daily basis. We cannot stockpile blood; it only has a shelf life of 42 days, and it cannot be manufactured,” Sweeney said. “So we have to continually encourage people to donate blood.”

In early July, Versiti Blood Center of Indiana issued an emergency appeal for blood donations due to a dangerously low blood supply. Certain blood types had less than a day’s worth of availability, endangering the lives of local patients. Summer donations had plummeted to critical levels, with over 4,463 appointments missed in the past month.

“We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. “Patients’ lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.”

Throughout the country, 62% of people are eligible to donate blood. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood, though some medications disqualify people from donating. Those can be found at RedCrossBlood.org.

But only about 3% of people actually donate blood, Sweeney said.

“It really is important, if they’re eligible, to give as often as they can,” she said. “Most people are eligible, so we encourage people to come give it a try. Go through the health screening and see if you are.”

To try and kick-start donations, anyone who gives blood, platelets, or plasma through Aug. 31 will get a $20 Amazon.com gift card by email. Drives are planned in Johnson County throughout the month.

A blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

“We supply blood to area hospitals, so we’re working with those hospital partners right now just to make sure we can supply an adequate supply to them,” Sweeney said. “But of course, that changes on a daily basis. We’re hoping it doesn’t get to a point where it’s impacting our hospitals.”

AT A GLANCE

Johnson County blood donation events

American Red Cross of Indiana

Aug. 13: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Johnson County Public Library White River branch, 1664 Library Blvd., Greenwood

Aug. 15: 1-6 p.m., Community Church of Greenwood, 1477 W. Main St.

Aug. 20: 2-6 p.m., Johnson County Public Library Franklin branch, 401 State St.

Sept. 3: 1-6 p.m., Johnson County Public Library White River branch

Sept. 4: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Ivy Tech, 2250 McClain Dr., Franklin

Sept. 6: Noon-6 p.m., Bluff Creek Christian Church, 6286 W. SR 144, Greenwood

Sept. 7: Noon-5 p.m., American Legion Post 252, 334 U.S. 31 S., Greenwood

To make appointments, to to RedCrossBlood.org or call (800) 733-2767.

Versiti Blood Center of Indiana

Aug. 23: 6:45-10:45 a.m., Franciscan Health Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave., Indianapolis

Aug. 24: 8 a.m.- noon, SS Francis and Clare Catholic Church, 5901 Olive Branch Road, Greenwood

Sept. 1: 9:30-11:30 a.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin

Sept. 1: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Elevation Church, 8902 S. Sherman Dr., Indianapolis

Greenwood Donor Center, 8739 S. U.S. 31, Indianapolis; 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday and Sunday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

To make an appointment, go to versiti.org/blood-donation-locations or call (317) 888-5017