At a recent blood drive at Spring Lake Park City Hall, Anne Reynolds was donating blood on her birthday. She said it was a good day to help give someone a chance at life, especially with a serious need in the community.
“We don’t know when that need is going to come to us or to somebody that we love,” said Reynolds. “And so I think if we can donate blood anytime, someone else’s blood is going to help our loved one at our time of need.”
The Red Cross organized the blood drive in Spring Lake Park and others as they try to make up a shortfall of blood and blood products like platelets often used in cancer treatments.
“We just got word that demand for blood is outpacing the supply,” said Red Cross Regional Communications Director Carrie Carlson-Guest. “So we’re getting the word out about how people can help.”
Carlson-Guest says all blood types are needed, especially O negative.
“O negative is that universal donor that as more people are traveling this summer, and unfortunately you may see more car accidents, that’s the type that can be transfused into anyone,” she said.”
A spokesperson for Memorial Blood Centers says they often see shortages in the summer as regular donors go on vacation or just stay home because of excessive heat. During the pandemic, many blood drives have been cancelled. Even though they are ramping back up, Memorial Blood Center’s Kari Lundeen says it’s still having an impact.
“The blood supply was supplied by 50 percent of the blood drives, so losing one half of those blood drives continues to impact us month after month,” says Lundeen.
Lundeen says they are struggling to fill the spaces for 4,000 donors a week needed to keep a healthy supply on hand.
“Some of our hospital partners have suspended elective surgeries because of this blood emergency. We’ve also asked the hospitals to lower their regular on-hand supply and request for emergency needs only.”
Lundeen says the biggest barriers to donating blood is not the thought of an uncomfortable needle, but most people say they’ve never been asked. Both agencies are asking now.
“Donate if you can, if there’s nothing out there that prevents you from doing so, donate,” says Anne Reynolds. “You save a life or two, and the next life you save might be your own.”
