Red Cross urges Charlotte area to roll up sleeves as COVID affects donations, supplies
The need for blood is constant, but in recent weeks, not enough Charlotte-area donors have rolled up their sleeves — leaving the American Red Cross critically short of supplies.
At times, the Greater Carolinas Region has had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types, communications director Maya Franklin told the Observer.
This is the worst blood shortage in over a decade, the national organization said in a release. All types are needed, especially types O+ and O-, the release said.
The Red Cross has experienced a 10% decline in the number of blood donors since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 and continues to run into issues, including blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations, the release said.
Blood-product distributions to Charlotte-area hospitals are currently outpacing the number of blood donations, Franklin said. Local blood supplies are similarly affected by fewer donations than what’s needed, she said.
Within the Greater Carolinas Region, the Red Cross has seen a “significant decline” in donor turnout, according to Franklin. Through the end of January, about 75% of donation appointments remain unfilled, compared to 56% during this time last year, she said.
“By making an appointment to give blood, donors can help prevent further delays in vital medical care,” Franklin said.
It’s difficult to blame the donation crisis on just one factor, especially during the post-holiday surge of COVID-19 cases, Franklin said. Donations are typically low during the winter holidays. However, as COVID-19 cases rose in August and through the fall, donor turnout decreased, she said.
“We anticipate that this surge will once again hurt donor turnout,” Franklin said. “We want to assure the public that COVID-19 safety protocols are in place at all blood drives and donation centers, including mask wearing and social distancing.”
The pandemic has “indefinitely disrupted” operations at OneBlood, formerly Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, because it’s upended the traditional venues for blood collection, spokeswoman Susan Forbes said.
Because potential donors are still working and learning remotely, bringing the organization’s “Big Red Bus” to workplaces and college campuses has become difficult, Forbes said.
“We’ve been living in the new normal for two years and it’s sort of displaced the traditional donor base,” she said. “We’re just facing an unprecedented situation for blood collections.”
Five chapters make up the Greater Carolinas Region: Charlotte Metro, Southern Piedmont, Blue Ridge Piedmont, Western North Carolina and Piedmont Triad. The chapters serve more than 5.5 million people across 51 counties, 47 in North Carolina and four counties in South Carolina.
“More donors are needed now to ensure blood is available for patients in need,” Franklin said.
OneBlood services in the Charlotte area, and provides blood to more than 200 hospital partners and their patients throughout most of the Southeast, including North Carolina and South Carolina. The nonprofit distributes nearly 1 million blood products annually.
“If you’ve never donated before, now is great time to start,” Forbes said.
How to donate blood
Who’s eligible: Individuals 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health.
What’s needed: A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification at check-in.
Where to donate: Schedule a donation appointment online at RedCrossBlood.org, by phone at 1-800-733-2767 (RED CROSS) or on the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
▪ Find a blood drive or donor center online at OneBlood.org.
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 11:28 AM.
