Blood Banks Short of Blood

BLOOD BANKS ARE SHORT ON SUPPLIES AFTER THE SUBZERO TEMPERATURES LAST WEEK IN IOWA. THE COLD WEATHER FORCED A NUMBER OF DRIVES TO BE CANCELED AND DONATION CENTERS TO BE CLOSED. 

ONE PERSON CAN DONATE A SINGLE PINT OF BLOOD EVERY EIGHT WEEKS, BUT THE DONATION CENTERS SAY AN AVERAGE DONOR ONLY GIVES BLOOD TWICE A YEAR. THAT’S A PROBLEM WHEN CENTERS NEED CONSTANT SUPPLIES OF BLOOD, ESPECIALLY DURING THE COLD MONTHS.

ONE OF THOSE CENTERS IS LIFESERVE BLOOD CENTER, WHO HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY SINCE THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES.  IT’S ALSO TOUGH ON CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS AND TRAUMA CENTERS SINCE THEY NEED THE MOST SUPPLIES. 

EVEN AS TEMPERATURES WARM BACK UP AND DRIVES AND DONATIONS GET GOING AGAIN, DONATION CENTERS HAVE TO PLAY CATCH-UP AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP TO DO IT.  DANIELLE WEST, THE REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR LIFESERVE, SAID THEY’VE BEEN TRYING TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE DOOR. HOWEVER, THE COLD IS MAKING IT HARD.