Weather, fewer donors hinder blood supply

Major provider asks facilities in five states to adjust, allow more time.

Nearly a dozen North Georgia hospitals are being asked to stop elective surgeries until Wednesday due to a blood shortage.

Blood Assurance, a supplier of blood to hospitals in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee, asked 70 hospitals, including 11 in Georgia, for time to replenish its inventory. It cited severe winter weather and the need for blood transfusions as the reasons for the shortfall.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the hospitals that use Blood Assurance products would suspend elective surgeries.

By Thursday afternoon, the blood center had less than a halfday’s supply of most blood types, according to a news release.

“The reason we made that decision is because of the weather and the closures that we’ve had across our service area, and blood drive cancellations on top of low donor turnout,” said Caitlin Stanley, director of marketing and public relations for Blood Assurance.

Atrium Health Floyd in Rome, Georgia, said it has no plans to stop elective surgeries.

“Our blood supplies currently remain well-stocked, and we have not made any changes to our surgery schedule,” said Dr. Ken Jones, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Atrium Health Floyd.

Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center also has no plans for changes in its schedule.

“Currently, Piedmont Cartersville is continuing normal surgical operations, including elective surgeries,” said Lori Rakes, chief executive officer at Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center.

The American Red Cross said the nation is facing the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years, citing a 40% drop in donations during this period. In a news release, the organization said it has had to limit distribution of type O blood products due to supply being lower than demand.

Type O blood is routinely in high demand but short supply at hospitals — both because it is the most common blood type and because type O-negative blood is the universal blood type and people of any blood type can receive it.

“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross, said in a news release.

He added that ongoing severe winter weather and seasonal illnesses may worsen the blood shortage. The Red Cross is calling for donors of all types, and especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets, to give now.