As many as 700 local patients require blood transfusions each day. Only 300 might receive it today, due to the minimal quantity of blood available for distribution to area hospitals.
While the winter holidays and summer months are two times a year that Carter BloodCare asks for donors to step up, as blood supply tends to wane during these times. But this is year is actually more dire: blood supply is dangerously low, even more so than normal for this time of year.
“We do not have enough on our shelves right now for routine hospital orders. There are backorders on filling hospitals’ requests. There is no other way to say it but that we are imploring help from the community,” said Dr. Merlyn Sayers, president, CEO, Carter BloodCare. “We cannot make blood. It only comes from volunteer donors.”
Blood cannot be stored very long, so blood programs count on donors giving multiple times a year. Only a small percentage of blood donors give more than once in 12 months.
Carter BloodCare wants to turn the situation around. That requires the blood center to collect a blood donation from 1,500 people every day for the next week.
For those hearing or reading about this local North, East and Central Texas concern, Carter BloodCare requests that folks make an appointment to give blood immediately. Walk-ins are welcomed. Donors may text or call 800-366-2834 for an appointment.
Donors may begin giving at age 16, with a parent’s or guardian’s consent. The forms are on the web site or at any blood donation location. Anyone age 17 and older may give independently.
There is no substitute for human blood. Visit carterbloodcare.org for more information.
About Carter BloodCare: Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 180 medical facilities in 50-plus counties of north, central and east Texas. The non-profit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 300,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements for their patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products.