Blood Shortage Continues, The Blood Connection Scheduled Several Drives in Our Area

The blood shortage crisis continues in the U.S. and next month The Blood Connection will be back in our area at several locations.

On March 2, they will be at Hart County High School from 8a to 2p, on March 3 a bloodmobile will be at Toccoa Falls College from 10a to 3p.

Then on March 4, a bloodmobile will be at the Community Wellness Fair at Cateechee Golf Club on March 4 from 1p to 6p.

On March 12, the Blood Connection bloodmobile will be at the Lavonia VFW from 10a to 3p, and on March 15 at Carnesville Elementary School from 11a to 4p.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, there has been a 10% overall blood donation decline, according to the American Red Cross.

There has also been a 62% drop in college and high school blood drives due to the pandemic. Student donors accounted for ~25% of donors in 2019 but that dropped to just ~10% during the pandemic.

Another reason for the blood shortage crisis, they said is ongoing blood drive cancellations due to illness, weather-related closures and staffing limitations.

Additional factors like a surge of COVID-19 cases and an active flu season are compounding an already bad situation.

The Red Cross declared a national blood shortage crisis in mid-January.

A week after the crisis was declared, the blood supply fell even lower as more than 200 blood drives across the country were canceled due to winter storms, resulting in nearly 6,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

All types are needed now, especially types O positive and O negative, as well as platelet donations, to help reverse this national blood crisis.

If there is not an immediate opportunity available to donate, donors are asked to make an appointment in the days and weeks ahead to ensure the Red Cross and The Blood Connection can replenish and maintain a sufficient blood supply.