Published by Kirby Winn on Monday, October 4, 2021 in News Releases
ImpactLife is joining blood providers across the United States in issuing an urgent appeal for additional donors as blood drive and appointment cancellations combine with a staffing shortage to cause a decrease in donations. ImpactLife currently has less than a 5-day supply of red blood cells for nearly all blood types, with type O donors especially needed as O-negative and O-positive inventories are at just a one- to two-day supply. Platelet and plasma donors of all types, especially type AB, are also greatly needed.
“We have a critical and urgent need for all donors of all blood types and donation procedures,” said Amanda Hess, Director, Donor and Public Relations. “We work to prevent blood shortages by keeping five or more days supply in our blood inventory hubs at all times. This allows us to consistently refill hospital shelves and ensure we have enough for their daily blood utilization needs.”
Appointments are required for donation. To schedule, call (800) 747-5401 or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
Similar issues are affecting blood providers nationwide, with the industry’s leading national organizations issuing a joint statement on the U.S. blood supply. Joint statement from America’s Blood Centers, American Red Cross, and AABB (full text available here):
The blood supply in the United States is dangerously low – an uncommon occurrence for this time of year. It is safe to donate blood and all eligible individuals – including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine – are encouraged to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets now to ensure that blood products will be available for all patients when needed.
With the recent COVID-19 case surge and the busy back-to-school period, some blood collection organizations are experiencing an abnormal decline in donor turnout; others are experiencing blood drive cancellations at schools and businesses limiting the number of individuals allowed onsite as a precautionary pandemic practice. These collection challenges have disrupted the nation’s blood supply, resulting in concerningly low inventories of life-saving blood products across the country for patients in need.
With a high number of openings across its entire service region, the blood center is being impacted by staffing issues related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Open positions in phlebotomy (collection specialists) and drivers are especially high at this time. ImpactLife provides extensive training in phlebotomy and encourages applicants of all backgrounds to apply at www.bloodcenter.org/apply.
“Thank You” to Donors: all receive voucher for ImpactLife T-shirt or gift card
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With appreciation for those who support the blood supply, ImpactLife is providing everyone who registers to give blood at its donor centers and mobile blood drives a voucher to redeem for an ImpactLife retro T-shirt or gift card. (Learn more at www.bloodcenter.org/promotions.)
Blood donations are often used to help treat patients with cancer, victims of trauma and patients undergoing major surgeries. All persons age 17 and up (or 16, with a signed parental permission form) who weigh at least 110 lbs. and are in general good health meet the basic eligibility requirements for blood donation. For more information, call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401, visit www.bloodcenter.org., or download the IMPACT mobile app at www.bloodcenter.org/app.
About ImpactLife
ImpactLife is a not-for-profit community organization providing blood services to 126 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. Services extend from southcentral Wisconsin to St. Louis, Missouri and from Danville, Illinois to Chariton, Iowa. (See a map of the ImpactLife service region.) ImpactLife operates 20 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed for patient transfusions at hospitals throughout our region.
ImpactLife recently announced its new name. For more information on the name change, see www.bloodcenter.org/impactlife. For more information, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.
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