Donors needed for critically low local blood supply

LifeShare Blood Center is calling for donors because the local blood supply is critically low. Right now, there is only enough blood on hospital shelves to last two days.

“It’s good to be anywhere from four to seven days, and you feel real comfortable there. With where we are right now, I feel uncomfortable with it,” said Theresa Westbrook, LifeShare executive director. “We hope we don’t have a shortage, but it seems like it does happen every summer. We try to plan ahead and get businesses to let us come in, and even though they do let us, often a lot of their people are on vacation, so it does affect the drives.”

Donated blood saves lives and is often used during medical treatment for accident victims, patients with blood disorders, people undergoing cancer treatment, women who experience complications during childbirth and many more situations.

“No one has a guarantee they will make it home safe and healthy each day. Medical emergencies and accidents happen far too often, and many of us just expect blood to be there for us and our loved ones. A low blood supply is a serious concern, since blood can’t be manufactured—someone choosing to donate is the only source. Enough people must willingly donate before the patient needs it, or the outcome can be devastating,” says Tina Martinez, executive director of marketing and communications for LifeShare.

About 150 extra units of blood are needed locally.

LifeShare is having a special blood drive, United We Give, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

LifeShare Blood Center regularly supplies blood components to about 100 medical facilities throughout Louisiana, East Texas and South Arkansas.

The Texarkana center supplies seven local hospitals.

Founded in Shreveport, La., in 1942, Lifeshare is a nonprofit community service provider governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. LifeShare is a member of America’s Blood Centers and the American Rare Donor Program, is licensed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and is accredited by AABB.

The local LifeShare is at 1321 College Drive. Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be made by calling 903794-3173.