State’s Supply of Blood Running Dangerously Low
Dr. Dave Lal
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowVersiti Blood Center of Indiana is issuing an emergency appeal for blood donations. According to the organization, communities throughout the state are facing a potential crisis as Indiana’s blood supply drops.
Compared to an average year, Versiti says its supply is down more than 50%, or nearly 20,000 units of blood, from key contributors. The organization says schools and businesses are typically its largest source of blood donations this time of year, however, remote work and e-learning have led to the cancellation of many of its drives.
“The current blood supply in the U.S. is critically low and most of the country’s blood centers are reporting a significant decline in blood collection,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical officer at Versiti. “In Indiana, the state’s blood supply has dropped to a critically low level, with less than a day’s supply of life-saving blood on shelves to supply Versiti’s more than 80 hospital partners throughout the state.”
Versiti says ideally, it strives for a three-day supply of blood available to its partner hospitals. The organization says blood types O-negative, O-positive are the most needed. O-negative and O-positive blood is the universal blood type, meaning donations can be used for any patient, including trauma victims, cancer patients and those undergoing surgery.
Versiti says it expects things to become even more challenging as COVID-19 continues to spike and flu season nears.
People interested in donating blood can visit a Versiti Blood Center of Indiana donor center near them. Central Indiana centers are listed below:
- Indianapolis, 3450 N. Meridian Street
- Fishers, 11005 Allisonville Road
- Carmel, 726 Adams Street, Suite 150
- Greenwood, 8739 U.S. 31 South
- Terre Haute, 2021 S. Third Street
- Lafayette, 2200 Elmwood Avenue, Suite D-16
You can find more information or schedule an appointment by clicking here.