With Mardi Gras season historically bringing a slowdown in blood donations, St. Tammany Health System is joining The Blood Center in urging colleagues and members of the public to donate blood to help offset critically low supplies.
That annual reduction in donations, coupled with a national blood shortage, have left hospitals in urgent need of type O, A-negative and B-negative blood, according to a recent Blood Center press release.
“We need donations, especially from people who have never donated before,” Blood Center President and CEO Billy Weales said. “It’s imperative that our community steps up to ensure hospitals have the blood components required for patient transfusion therapy. Preparedness is crucial, particularly during a time when Mardi Gras attendance is projected to exceed 1 million people.”
Having a strong blood inventory, he added, ensures that healthcare professionals are ready to respond to any situation.
As an added incentive, donors who give between now and 18 – that is, today through Ash Wednesday – will receive a limited-edition Terrance Osborne print and a matching collectible T-shirt, available exclusively to donors.
To schedule a donation or learn more, visit TheBloodCenter.org.
The Blood Center, which supplies blood to hospitals throughout south Louisiana and Mississippi, must collect between 200 and 250 units each day to meet hospital demand. Community participation is critical to prevent disruptions in care and to ensure hospitals remain ready for both routine needs and unexpected emergencies.