Blood Connection Bloodmobile in Lavonia Today as Donations Remain Critically Low

Because of several recent winter weather events, The Blood Connection said more than 1,100 units of blood were unable to be collected due to their centers being closed and their blood drives having to be canceled.

Prior to that disruption, however, The Blood Connection was already struggling to fulfill 100% of orders from local hospitals caused by continued historically low donor turnout.

Blood Connection officials say the community’s blood supply is once again in jeopardy if donors do not give blood now.

That’s why the Blood Connection bloodmobile will be at the Lavonia Chick-fil-A today from 2:30p to 7:30p.

In addition to today’s blood drive at Chick-Fil-A, the Blood Connection will also be at Toccoa Elementary School Wednesday from 9a to 1p and at Pruitt Health of Toccoa tomorrow afternoon from 3p to 5p.

And they will be at Stephens County Hospital Thursday from 11a to 4p.

January was National Blood Donor Month however, the nation’s blood supply still remains at historically low levels. The dangerously low blood supply levels have forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery, including organ transplants.

Last Friday, the American Red Cross tweeted they have declared their first-ever national blood crisis.

Red Cross officials also say recent bad weather all over the country has canceled an estimated 500 blood drives. That’s 17,000 fewer donations.

If the nation’s blood supply does not stabilize soon, they predict life-saving blood may not be available for some patients when it is needed.

Blood supplies have been a problem since the start of the pandemic, but the Red Cross said supplies haven’t been this low in more than a decade.

Fewer people made donations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but winter weather has further complicated people making their appointments.

Blood components have a short shelf life and the blood supply needs to be constantly replenished.

Blood can take up to three days to be tested, processed, and made available for patients, so it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.

In a typical year in the U.S., more than 16 million units of blood and blood products are transfused with more than 45,000 units needed daily.