Vitalant announces a nationwide blood shortage emergency

Blood Supply Sinks to Lowest Level in a Year: National Nonprofit Vitalant Declares Emergency Blood Shortage

Donors needed to make up for 50% decline in donations at business blood drives
Through Jan. 20, donors thanked with chance to win a trip to the Big Game

The blood supply for about 900 hospitals nationwide recently dipped to its lowest level in a year at Vitalant, triggering a blood emergency for the nonprofit blood services provider. Eligible donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed now to schedule an appointment and donate in the days and weeks ahead to prevent delays for patients who need transfusions.

Changes in how people work, live and play since the start of the pandemic created lasting challenges to maintaining an adequate blood supply. As many people continue to work remotely, blood donations at business-hosted blood drives are down by 50% in 2022 from 2019, a decline of 90,000 donations. Overall, the number of people donating with Vitalant has dropped about 20% in the last three years, while patients’ needs remain strong.

“New donors and those who haven’t donated recently are critical to helping end this shortage. Patient needs continue but societal shifts have kept blood donations from rebounding to pre-pandemic levels,” said Cliff Numark, Vitalant senior vice president. “Starting the new year by scheduling a blood donation can make an incredible impact in your community.”

In addition, recent blood drive cancellations forced by severe winter weather and illnesses have compounded the shortage. Blizzards and extreme cold caused more than 2,000 donations to go uncollected in December and early January across the country.

Donors of every blood type are critical to ending this shortage and maintaining an adequate supply. The need is most acute for type O blood and platelets. Type O-positive is the most transfused blood type while O-negative can help patients of any blood type. Donated platelets, which often help cancer patients, must be used within a week.

Learn more about hosting blood drives, donating blood and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). During January, National Blood Donor Month, all those who come to give blood through Jan. 20 will be automatically entered to win tickets, travel and more in the Big Trip to the Big Game Giveaway. Learn more at vitalant.org/biggame.

PUBLIC BLOOD DRIVES BY CITY
Vitalant Blood Donation Appointments: www.vitalant.org or 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825)

Donor Thank You Gifts
*Through Jan. 13: voucher a free one-day admission to the Waste Management Phoenix Open
Jan. 14 – 31: voucher for a free one-day admission to the Arizona Renaissance Festival

Casa Grande
*Thu, Jan. 12, 9am-1pm, Sunscape RV Resort , Main Common Rms by Activities Office, 1083 E Sunscape way
*Fri, Jan. 13, 10am-2pm, City of Casa Grande @ Downtown Public Library, Activity Rm, 449 N Drylake St
Sat, Jan. 21, 8am-1pm, Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort, SanTan Rm, 1110 N Henness Rd
Mon, Jan. 30, 10am-2pm, Grace Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 1805 E Sierra Pkwy
Tue, Jan. 31, 9am-1pm, Compass Christian Church, Main Hall entry by Office, 1510 N Casa Grande Ave

Florence
Thu, Jan. 26, 10am-2pm, Florence Town Hall, Bloodmobile, 775 N Main St

Tucson
Sun, Jan. 15, 8am-1pm, St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Gym, 8650 N Shannon Rd
Fri, Jan. 20, 8am-12pm, Empire High School, Gym, 10701 E Mary Ann Cleveland Way

About Vitalant
Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect nearly 5,000 blood, platelet and plasma donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.