TEXARKANA, Texas — LifeShare Blood Center, with the support of several of its hospital partners, is issuing an emergency appeal and warning the community of their current crisis.
Patient care is severely threatened by the inadequate blood supply that the region has been experiencing for several weeks. “Unfortunately, for many people, it is a problem you don’t realize exists unless you have a friend or family member in the hospital whose treatment is delayed or postponed because blood is not available,” says LifeShare Regional Director Elizabeth Cunningham.
LifeShare is currently unable to fill hospital orders. “Hospitals may ask us for 20 units, but they only get 10. We consider an adequate blood supply to be about a 3-5 day supply of red blood cells. This weekend we had as little as an 8 hour supply of some blood type,” says Sr. Director of Blood Operations Benjamin Prijatel.
Hospitals are voicing concern as the crisis reaches a point where patient care is being affected.
LifeShare is asking anyone who is eligible to donate blood to come forward immediately.
Those who are unable to donate PLEASE encourage those who are able to give. Please share this information about the current crisis to their friends and family. “Anyone in the community can help us overcome this situation,” says Cunningham.
More information about donor eligibility and upcoming blood drives go to LifeShare.org.
LifeShare Blood Center regularly supplies blood components to approximately 100 medical facilities throughout Louisiana, East Texas and South Arkansas. Founded in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1942, it is a nonprofit community service provider governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. LifeShare is a member of America’s Blood Centers and the American Rare Donor Program, is licensed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and accredited by AABB.
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