Blood supply declines, need rises

With the busy summer months well underway, Carter BloodCare Stewart Center is working to keep ahead of the daily demand for blood.

Levels of O positive and most Rh-negative blood types are still low. Regular donors go on vacation, schools are out, and gasoline cost has also become a factor for donors. Lives depend on blood every day to survive, and Carter BloodCare Stewart Center strongly encourages donors to give in the coming weeks. Donors can make a unit count double by giving an automated donation, also called apheresis.

Automated donations help donors maximize their ability to help by providing more of the blood components needed. The selected component is collected and saved while the rest of the donor's blood is immediately returned to their body. Automation allows Carter BloodCare Stewart Center to better match donations to the needs of local hospitals.

Best candidates for red cell donation- Type O donors are encouraged to give double red cells for emergency care needs. The majority of all transfusions require red blood cells, which carry the body's hemoglobin and oxygen. Anemic patients, transplant patients, heart surgery patients, and accident and trauma patients need red cells, usually in multiple units. Donors must meet certain weight and height requirements.

Best candidates for platelet donation- Patients most often need platelets from Type A and Type AB blood donors. Platelets aid clotting, benefiting patients who develop bleeding disorders from leukemia, cancer therapy or open heart surgery. It takes six whole blood donors to produce just one unit of transfusable platelets. With automated donation technology, donors can give up to three concentrated platelet transfusions with one donation. Platelet donors must meet the same requirements as routine whole blood donors.

Donors are encouraged to contact Carter BloodCare to learn which options work best for their schedule, blood type and patient need. Call 1-800- DONATE-4 or visit carterbloodcare.org.