Donors needed as blood supplies reach emergency low levels

admin • Jul 20, 2016 News

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) — Blood centers across the nation are making an urgent call for donations as the American Red Cross issues an emergency for more blood.

For many, summertime means swimming and sunbathing.
But for blood centers, it means a shortage of supplies and stress.

“The shortage we believe is based on four issues,” said Kevin Belanger, President, C.E.O. at the Shepeard Community Blood Center.

“Number one is the high schools are out of session right now and they’re about 10% of our collection here locally,” Belanger said.

Add that to the fact that people are doing summer activities, travelling for vacations, and there’s a new hemoglobin rule turning away more men– and you’ve got a problem.

“With the national shortage this summer, I think it’s just the perfect storm,” said Belanger.

The goal: to keep a three days supply of blood, platelets and plasma.
If it drops below, the center goes into an urgent appeal.
And they’re in one now.

“Every three seconds somebody needs a unit of blood,” Belanger said.

So donating is crucial.

“Everyone should consider it because it’s so important,” said Romeo Jackson, a frequent blood donor.

He gave blood for the first time in 1989.

“I was a little nervous the first time, but it worked,” Jackson said.

And he’s been a dedicated donor ever since.

He gives a pint every two months, helping almost as many people as there are days in the year.

“360 lives I’ve contributed to. That’s 120 units, 15 gallons,” Jackson said.

One donation helps three lives and it’s asked you donate at least 3 times a year.

“It’s important for the public to understand that they need to make apart of their life,” Belanger said.

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Donors needed as blood supplies reach emergency low levels

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