School spring breaks and holiday travel have caused a drop in blood donations over the last 6 weeks
Types O supply is at just a 1-to-2-day level
DELMARVA PENINSULAย โย Blood Bank of Delmarva announced a blood emergency today, as school spring breaks and holiday travel have caused an alarming drop in donations over the past month. The blood supply currently stands at a 2-to-3-day level, with type O negative and O positive at just a 0.5-day to 2-day level. This is well below the ideal, 7-day inventory.
Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors to receive life-saving blood donations, but the recent spring break and holiday travel has caused uncertainty.
In addition, according to the latest figures put out by Americaโs Blood Centers, only 3 percent of the U.S. population donates blood. Blood Bank of Delmarva is a member of ABC.
โThis time of year can always be difficult for the blood supply,โ said Patricia Killeen, Senior Executive Director at Blood Bank of Delmarva. โOne blood donation has the ability to save up to three lives. We highly encourage all who are able to donate today to help Delaware and Eastern Shore residents who need it most.โ
It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.
To make an appointment, donors can call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or visit www.DelmarvaBlood.org.
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Aboutย Blood Bank of Delmarva: Founded in 1954, Blood Bank of Delmarva is a not-for-pro๏ฌt 501(c)(3) community blood bank with aย simple mission: saving lives. The Blood Bank of Delmarva, a division of NYBCe, achieves its mission everyย day by providing safe blood and blood products to all 19 hospitals in Delmarva andย relies on over 80,000 volunteer blood donors each year to ensure patientsโ needs are met.ย The Blood Bank of Delmarva distributes over 130,000 blood products annually andย operates four donor centers. Each year, the Blood Bank of Delmarva normally hosts over 600 blood drives. These blood drives would not be possible without the commitment ofย community organizations that volunteer to serve as sponsors or coordinators, whichย provides opportunities for blood donors to give blood and help patients in need.ย BBD is a New York Blood Center Enterprises affiliate and a member of AABB and ABC. For more information, please visit delmarvablood.org or follow us at facebook.com/delmarvabloodbank.
