DonnaDelia and JulianaSweeney at a blood drive
Recently, the Blood Bank of Delaware announced that blood supplies had reached critical levels. As of Monday, December 2, Blood Bank Communications Specialist Tony Prado stated that the three-week emergency was lifted, but that there was no time to celebrate.
“We are now in the critical holiday period when donations can decrease as people get busy preparing for Christmas, Chanukah and other holidays,” Prado said. “With shopping, having company over, cooking, vacations or family visits during the holiday season, blood donations drop. Unfortunately, the need for blood does not take a holiday.”
According to Prado, Type O is the blood type most in demand as it is the number one blood type in America and also has a lot of versatility. Low-titer O positive whole blood is also being used across the state with the addition of Kent County Emergency Medical Services to the fold.
“Sussex County and New Castle County EMS have been using pre-hospital whole blood in the field for a year and a half and Kent County started doing the same in November,” Prado said. “Low-titer O positive whole blood is similar to the universal blood type, O negative, in that it can usually be transfused into anyone.”
IsabellaLemon and LivStarling
Unfortunately, Prado explained that O negative blood is rare and is reserved for use in trauma and emergency room uses as well as for patients who are O negative.
“There is also a need for B negative, the second most rare blood type and the hardest to keep in stock,” Prado said. “We always need platelets as they only have a five-year shelf life and they are hard to keep in stock.”
Anyone who wants to donate blood can do so at the six donor centers across Delmarva or at mobile blood drives held daily across the peninsula. Appointments can be made by calling 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or visit the Blood Bank website.
“Walk-ins are welcome as long as there is room on the schedule to take them without long waits,” Prado said. “Donors are asked to eat well and hydrate before coming in. They also must be healthy and well. Cold or flu-like symptoms or a fever will result in deferring their donation.”
Donations can be of whole blood, which is the most common, double red cells, plasma and platelets. Prado explained that there is no real reason why blood supplies have reached critical levels.
“America’s Blood Centers of which the Blood Bank of Delaware is a member, ran the numbers on the issue,” Prado said. “It turns out that 62 percent of the United States population is eligible to donate blood which is not bad, but only three percent of those eligible donors actually donate.”
Lexi Moore and CassidyFanning
It is not clear if the issue is caused by apathy, ignorance, an aversion to needles or something else. There have also been an increase in traumatic accidents on highways, Prado stated.
“If there are two or three people injured in an accident, that could easily wipe out the blood supply from an entire blood drive,” Prado said. “We just have to work hard to spread awareness about the constant need for blood. We especially try to get young people between the ages of 16 and 24 as well as 25 to 34 to donate in order to replace donors who are aging out.”
One of the ways the Blood Bank of Delaware is trying to attract younger donors is by holding blood drives at high schools and colleges that are a fun experience so that donors return.
“The next blood drive in Milford is planned at Mispillion River Brewing on Friday, January 3 from noon to 5 PM,” Prado said. “There are also drives planned close to Milford.”
TonyPrado donating his own blood as Will Buckley and CiaraQuinones handle the procedure
On Tuesday, December 10 from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, a blood drive is planned at TidalHealth in Seaford with another planned on Monday, December 23 at the VFW in Milton from 9 AM to 1 PM. On Friday, December 27, blood can be donated at Dogfish Head in Milton from noon until 6 PM and on Tuesday, January 27 at Bayhealth Sussex Campus in Milford form 9 AM to 1 PM.
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