March 28, 2024 5:27 PM
Search

Blood Supply Sinks to Lowest Level in a Year: National Nonprofit Vitalant Declares Emergency Blood Shortage

The blood supply for about 900 hospitals nationwide recently dipped to its lowest level in a year at Vitalant, triggering a blood emergency for the nonprofit blood services provider. Eligible donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed now to schedule an appointment and donate in the days and weeks ahead to prevent delays for patients who need transfusions – Prescott and Prescott Valley locations listed below. 

Changes in how people work, live and play since the start of the pandemic created lasting challenges to maintaining an adequate blood supply. As many people continue to work remotely, blood donations at business-hosted blood drives are down by 50% in 2022 from 2019, a decline of 90,000 donations. Overall, the number of people donating with Vitalant has dropped about 20% in the last three years, while patients’ needs remain strong. 

 “New donors and those who haven’t donated recently are critical to helping end this shortage. Patient needs continue but societal shifts have kept blood donations from rebounding to pre-pandemic levels,” said Cliff Numark, Vitalant senior vice president. “Starting the new year by scheduling a blood donation can make an incredible impact in your community.” 

 In addition, recent blood drive cancellations forced by severe winter weather and illnesses have compounded the shortage. Blizzards and extreme cold caused more than 2,000 donations to go uncollected in December and early January across the country.

Donors of every blood type are critical to ending this shortage and maintaining an adequate supply. The need is most acute for type O blood and platelets. Type O-positive is the most transfused blood type while O-negative can help patients of any blood type. Donated platelets, which often help cancer patients, must be used within a week.  

 Learn more about hosting blood drives, donating blood and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). 

PUBLIC BLOOD DRIVES BY CITY

Vitalant Blood Donation Appointments: www.vitalant.org or 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825)

Donor Thank You Gift

Jan. 14 – 31:  voucher for a free one-day admission to the Arizona Renaissance Festival

 Prescott

Tue, Jan. 17, 10am-3pm, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Lower Hangar, 3700 N Willow Creek

Sat, Jan. 21, 10am-2pm, Prescott Gateway Mall, Ste 244 by Claire’s (blue doors), 3250 Gateway Blvd

Thu, Jan. 26, 8am-5pm, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Thumb Butte Rm, 1003 Willow Creek Rd

Prescott Valley

Mon, Jan. 16, 8am-1pm, Blood for Braden @ Arizona Hot Tub Company, Employee Lounge, 6947 E 1st St

Mon, Jan. 16, 8am-1pm, Blood for Braden @ Arizona Hot Tub Company, Employee Lounge, 6947 E 1st St

Wed, Jan. 25, 9am-2pm, Town of Prescott Valley @ Library, Crystal Rm, 7401 Skoog Blvd

Fri, Jan. 27, 8am-5pm, Yavapai Regional Medical Center-East Campus, Pronghorn Rm, 7700 Florentine Rd

 

About Vitalant

Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect nearly 5,000 blood, platelet and plasma donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Related Articles