Blood Donors Needed to Provide for Patients in Flooded Areas

Staff Report

For The Record

Flood-related problems are resulting in blood drive cancellations and blood center closures in south Louisiana. LifeShare Blood Centers is asking for more blood donors where road conditions are safe to help support patients in areas impacted by the flood.

“While the weather is impacting blood donors’ ability to give, patients continue to need blood daily. Blood is a life-saving resource that cannot be replaced with a manufactured product. We are encouraging neighboring communities to provide more blood donations in order to share with the distressed areas. The flood has already caused so much devastation that helping maintain a stable blood supply is one meaningful way we can support our communities during this time,” says Tina Hooper, spokesperson for LifeShare Blood Centers.

Blood donations made in the days prior to the flooding have been vital in supporting patient needs thus far, but the supply is being quickly depleted. A loss of hundreds of anticipated blood donations has already taken place. Given the current conditions in south Louisiana, several hundred donations will be necessary to sustain the blood supply in the upcoming weeks.

Anyone 16 years or older that may be able to donate blood is asked to go to a LifeShare center or blood drive and make a blood donation in order to continue meeting patient needs and help the community remain prepared for increased blood needs in the area.

For a full list of blood drives and donation centers, go to www.lifeshare.org or call 409-838-5289.

LifeShare Blood Centers regularly supplies blood components to 117 medical facilities throughout Louisiana, East Texas and South Arkansas. Founded in Shreveport, La. in 1942, where its headquarters remains, it is a nonprofit community service provider governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. LifeShare is a member of America’s Blood Centers and the American Rare Donor Program, is licensed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and accredited by AABB.