Rise in seasonal illness leads to severe drop in local blood donations
Carter BloodCare declares critical situation for blood types in 57 Texas counties
A spike in respiratory illnesses is contributing to a critical drop in the local blood supply.
Community blood center Carter BloodCare today issued a critical alert for five blood types: A positive, A negative, B negative, O positive and O negative. Critical status indicates less than a day’s supply is available.
There is only a two- to three-day supply of type B positive and platelets. Remaining blood types AB positive and AB negative are stable.
Carter BloodCare provides transfusion resources to more than 200 hospitals across 57 Texas counties. However, without blood at the ready, surgeries and medical treatments – including those for children fighting cancer – could be postponed for two days or longer until donated blood is available.
Eligible donors can give at age 16 with parental consent; those 17 and older may donate independently.
Carter BloodCare donors receive appreciation gifts such as shirts, drink tumblers and e-gift cards, shown on the Promotions page at CarterBloodCare.org.
Select a time to donate at CarterBloodCare.org or call 800-366-2834.
About Carter BloodCare
Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 200 medical facilities in 57 counties of North, Central and East Texas. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 440,000 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. Tu centro de sangre comunitario.
