Blood donations drop to critical level

Did you know… About 60 percent of the population is eligible to donate, yet only 5 percent of the eligible population actually donates blood. Donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health to be eligible. Under normal circumstances, every two seconds someone in America will need a blood transfusion. Blood transfusions are used for trauma victims – due to accidents and burns – heart surgery, organ transplants, women with complications during childbirth, newborns and premature babies, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. The entire blood donation process takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

The American Red Cross Midwest Region Blood Services is experiencing an unprecedented decline in donations – perhaps the worst in 20 years – with about a 1 1/2 day supply of most blood types, plasma and platelets.

The Region strives to have a 5 to 7 day supply of each type ready for distribution every day and is finding that its ability to serve patient needs is hindered by a supply that has been seriously low since April.

Two to three day supply is needed

“There are serious consequences when we are not able to maintain an adequate inventory — surgeries may be postponed and we are placed in the precarious position of knowing that if a major emergency, organ transplant or accident were to occur we would not be able to provide lifesaving blood and people may be harmed or die unnecessarily,” said Lisa Kustka, chief operations officer of the Midwest Blood Services Region.

More than 30 percent of the blood transfusion needs in the region are for A+ and there is only a half day supply in inventory. It is critical to have at least a two to three day supply on hand to meet the most routine needs.

Cancer patients are biggest users

Dr. James Landmark, microbiologist and head of the blood bank at The Nebraska Medical Center said the Midwest has some of the most dedicated blood donators in the country. As a result, the hospital has yet to see the drastic effects from blood shortages that often plague facilities in other parts of the country. But if shortages were to worsen, the hospital would have to conserve blood by prioritizing blood usage and resort to delaying elective surgeries.

“While many people think blood donations help trauma patients the most, it’s actually cancer patients who are the biggest users of blood in the hospital. Patients being treated for cancers often lose the body’s natural ability to produce blood and its vital components,” Landmark said.

How to help The Red Cross will expand its hours of operation to accommodate donors. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE instead of just walking in so that waiting time is kept to a minimum. Thursday, Sept. 4 American Red Cross Collection Center, 132nd & Dodge streets –12:30 to 6:30 p.m. American Red Cross Heartland Chapter Blood Drive –noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5 American Red Cross Collection Site, 38th & Dewey streets –7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. American Red Cross Collection Center, 132nd & Dodge streets — 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 American Red Cross Collection Site, 38th & Dewey streets — 7 to 11:30 a.m. American Red Cross Collection Center, 132nd & Dodge streets –7 to 11:30 a.m.

Transplant patients use donations

Transplant patients, especially those receiving liver transplants, are the second biggest group of patients needing blood transfusions. Last year, The Nebraska Medical Center used 13,174 units of red blood cells. It also used 5,333 units of single donor blood platelets and transfused 6,650 units of blood plasma. Another 3,401 units of clotting factor were used for liver transplant patients.

Inventory low across the country

“This is not a local phenomenon,” Kustka said. “The American Red Cross is experiencing record lows on a national basis. For example, the Red Cross strives to keep about 100,000 units in inventory at all times. Right now, there is about a third of that in inventory across the country, further exacerbating the problem because it would limit the ability of other Red Cross regions providing back up assistance if we run short here in the Midwest.”

The Midwest Region Blood Services of the American Red Cross supplies blood to more than 80 hospitals in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas. As blood is needed somewhere in America every two seconds, the Region relies on volunteer donors, 400 dedicated employees and 1300 volunteer blood drive coordinators to provide life-saving blood every day for nearly 2 million citizens.