The state’s blood supply is at an all-time low leading into the holidays. All blood types are at less than a 1-day supply, many types with zero products available. Due to the blood shortage, many needed treatments and elective surgeries are being delayed. Every two seconds someone needs blood and right now many of them are being told that they will have to wait.
“A drastic drop in blood donor turnout has contributed to the lowest blood inventory level in many years. Donors of all blood types are urged to give to help meet the needs of patients this holiday season,” said Merle Eldridge, Director of Donor Recruitment & Mobile Collections at Mississippi Blood Services. “No patient should have to remain in the hospital this holiday season because they weren’t able to get the treatment they needed to go home”.
It is imperative that healthy individuals donate to ensure blood is available for Mississippi patients. Blood products are always needed for:
- surgeries
- traumas
- catastrophic and long-term illnesses, such as sickle cell disease and cancer
“Less than 4 percent of Mississippians donate blood on a regular basis, right now this percentage is probably even lower,” Eldridge added. “Mississippi Blood Services must send out 200+ units or more, of blood products each day to hospitals across the state to meet the needs of patients. This is a daunting task, and we cannot do it without donors volunteering their time to save lives by donating blood”.
Those interested in donating blood or platelets may contact Mississippi Blood Services at (601)368-2673 or at www.msblood.com to find a local collection site and to schedule an appointment. Donating blood is safe, simple and saves lives.
