Skip to main content

Blood shortage leads to emergency call for blood donors

Jan 29, 2019 02:35PM ● By Travis Barton

American Red Cross staff member Kathryn Anderson prepares to take a blood donation from Ellie Cheung. (Amanda Romney/American Red Cross)

By Travis Barton | [email protected]

As of Jan. 14, the Red Cross had a less than three-day supply of most blood types on hand, nationwide. That’s well below the ideal five-day supply used to respond to emergencies and daily hospital needs. 

An emergency call was issued by the American Red Cross for blood and platelet donors in January. A lack of blood drives over the holidays has led to a blood shortage, according to a Red Cross press release.

The Red Cross collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. During this period, about 1,350 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet patient needs as busy holiday schedules kept many donors away. 

“Many people may not realize that blood products are perishable, and the only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services in the press release. “When donations decline – as they did around the holidays and may further decline if severe winter weather and flu season pick up – lifesaving medical treatments could be delayed.”

All eligible donors, especially platelet donors and blood donors with type O blood, are urged to make an appointment to give in the coming days to help restock the shelves for hospital patients. Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from worsening this winter.  

“We hope people can resolve to save lives now – when there is an emergency need – as well as throughout the year,” added Numark.

In May 2018, 4-year-old Branson Gibby was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of childhood cancer that affects certain types of nerve tissue, after complaining of pain in his arms and legs and running a fever. After many tests, his mother, Erica Austin, was given the news that no mother ever wants to hear: her son had cancer. 

Branson’s 18-month treatment plan includes many rounds of grueling chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor near his kidney and spinal cord, stem cell transplants, and possibly radiation. He has already endured several lengthy hospital stays and began receiving the first of his stem cell transplants this fall.

Since his diagnosis, Branson has received 12 blood and 11 platelet transfusions. Of the transfusions, Austin said, “They have been so important to keep him as healthy, active and battle-ready, as possible. This is the hardest thing our family has ever faced. However, there is hope in the generosity of strangers who are helping to heal my brave boy. Blood and platelet donations truly are the gift of life.”

Last January and February weather conditions forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing about 23,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected nationwide, according to the Red Cross. 

SIDEBAR: 

Upcoming blood drives in Salt Lake County: 

Kearns

2/1/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearns Western Hills Stake, 5380 West 5400 South

Magna

2/8/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Magna Stake, 3100 South 8400 West

Riverton

2/7/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Bluffdale Utah South Stake, 14662 South 3200 West

Salt Lake City

2/1/2019: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/1/2019: 1:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Taylorsville Utah South Stake, 4932 South 3200 West

2/2/2019: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/3/2019: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/4/2019: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/4/2019: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., LDS Hospital, 8th Avenue and C Street

2/4/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn & Suites Airport West, 5001 Wiley Post Way

2/5/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., PlanSource, #9 Exchange Place, 350 S. Main Street

2/5/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Employers Council, 175 West 200 South, Suite 2005

2/5/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/6/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/7/2019: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Department of Airports, Terminal One - Alpha Bus Plaza

2/7/2019: 11:15 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/8/2019: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/9/2019: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/9/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, 5335 Highland Drive

2/9/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., AT&T Holladay, 1873 East Murray Holladay Blvd.

2/9/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wasatch Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2139 Foothill Dr.

2/10/2019: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/11/2019: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/12/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Unico Properties LLC, 250 East 200 South, Suite 150

2/12/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Monaco Apartments, 4115 South 430 East

2/12/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/13/2019: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., United Way of Salt Lake, 257 East 200 South, Suite 300

2/13/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 South West Temple

2/13/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/14/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Health Sciences Education Building, Health Sciences Education Building, 26 South 2000 East

2/14/2019: 11:15 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/14/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake Pioneer Stake, 1401 West 700 South

2/15/2019: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Blood Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East

2/15/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Myriad Genetics, 320 Wakara Way

2/15/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Taylorsville Stake, 895 West 4800 South

Sandy

2/1/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Draper Utah Eastridge Stake, 1020 E. Sunburn Lane

2/6/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Sandy West Stake, 8650 South 220 East

2/6/2019: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m., Sandy Institute of Religion, 9501 South Poppy Lane

South Jordan

2/1/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Merrick Bank, 10705 South Jordan Gateway, Suite 200

2/14/2019: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Ivanti Software, 698 West 10000 South, Suite 500

West Jordan

2/1/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., West Jordan Cobble Creek Stake, 8150 Grizzly Way

2/6/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., West Jordan Utah Westland Stake-Stake Center, 7265 South 2700 West

2/15/2019: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m., West Jordan Utah YSA Stake, 3431 Wights Fort Road

West Valley City

2/7/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Progrexion/Decker Lake, 2850 South Decker Lake Drive

2/15/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Granger West Stake, 3901 West 2925 South