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Vitalant calls on donors to help with critical shortage

Launches new campaign to motivate the public to donate
Posted at 2:25 PM, May 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-21 15:25:34-04

Vitalant has declared a critical shortage of blood as supplies have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release from the non-profit blood collector.

Shelter-in-place orders led to 950 blood drives canceled since early March in Acadiana alone, resulting in a loss of over 19,000 uncollected blood donations. That, coupled with a resumption of surgeries and other medical procedures as stay-at-home restrictions were lifted, has caused a 25% increase in the need for blood during the past several weeks, according to Vitalant.

All blood types are critically needed right now, with an especially high need for type O, A-negative and B-negative red blood cells. In addition, platelets are always needed by patients for cancer treatments, surgeries and emergencies. Because of its short shelf life-only five days-the supply of platelets must be continually replenished.

Donors are urged to give blood by going online to vitalant.org or calling 877-258-4825 (877-25-VITAL).

"We strive to maintain a 4-day supply of blood just to provide what patients need, and currently we're at less than half that for certain blood types," said Dr. Ralph Vassallo, Chief Medical Officer at Vitalant. "It's absolutely vital-a matter of life or death for some-to have enough blood collected and readily available on hospital shelves when patients need it."

In Louisiana, Vitalant must collect 250 blood donations per day to meet patients' transfusion needs. Every two seconds, someone needs blood.

Vitalant recently released its Because of You, Life Doesn't Stop campaign, calling on all donors to take action and give blood or convalescent plasma to meet immediate and ongoing needs. Recovered COVID-19 patients have immune-boosting antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in their plasma, which can be given to patients currently fighting COVID-19.

"The public responded when thousands of blood drives were canceled-more than 100,000 units of blood lost-at the beginning of the pandemic," said Cliff Numark, Chief of Marketing. "We are in the aftermath and we need to let people know that without donating blood today, life could stop for hospital patients."

The U.S. Surgeon General and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have designated blood donation as an essential activity, encouraging healthy and eligible donors to continue to donate even amidst COVID-19 response measures. From coast to coast, all Vitalant centers continue to deploy strict precautionary measures to ensure the safety of donors, patients and staff, including:

Taking donors' temperatures upon check-in (staff self-monitor their temperatures)

Requiring face masks or cloth-based face coverings (donors and staff)

Disinfecting donor-touched and other high-touch areas often and after every donation

Ensuring social distancing to keep donors and staff safe.

For more information on donating blood, view thePSA. To join the larger conversation about blood and plasma donations visit: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and use the hashtag #VitalToLife.

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