The Picayune Donor Center will in action this Saturday, January 28^th from 10-3.  All blood types are welcome and needed.

 

New Orleans, LA –The inventory of all blood types at The Blood Center is critically low and patient care could be jeopardized, without the immediate support of citizens throughout Southern Louisiana and Mississippi.  Increased usage and low donor turnout may result in area hospitals canceling select elective surgeries until inventories once again reach stable levels regionally and nationally.

“We need the public to respond immediately to replenish blood supplies for existing transfusion-related needs,” says Dr. Tim Peterson, Medical Director for The Blood Center. “Transplants and multiple cardiothoracic procedures are scheduled at area hospitals and a significant portion of the existing inventory is needed for these surgeries.”

The Blood Center will extend hours of operations at mobile blood drives and fixed site locations if an increase in donor inflow mandates it.

“Donors need to give “NOW” to avert hospitals from being placed into precarious situations that may result in the rescheduling of future patient surgeries, or we may find ourselves incapable of responding to a mass casualty event” continues Dr. Peterson. “The inventory situation nationally is bleak and the ability to garner support from other regions throughout the country via importation is minimal.”

Several opportunities to donate this week include Children’s Hospital today; Wednesday’s Mid-City Community Blood Drive at 3500 Canal (St. Vincent DePaul), the Student Union at LSU or St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court; Thursday at Tulane University; or any area donor centers daily.

The Blood Center, a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer Board of Directors, is the primary supplier of blood and blood components to more than 50 area hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. The Blood Center operates seven donor centers in the Gulf South.

Every type is the right type; while 60% of the population is eligible to donate blood, less than 5% do it. To maintain a healthy and stable community blood supply, The Blood Center must collect between 200 to 250 pints of blood every day.

Fast facts:

• Blood donors need to be 17 years of age (or 16 with a parent’s consent) and have a picture ID
• The donation process takes less than an hour
• Someone needs blood every three seconds
• You can donate blood every 56 days

  Events mentioned in the release include:

  Children’s Hospital Blood Drive 

  Tuesday, January 24, 2023
  07:00 am – 05:00 pm
  State Street
  Conference Center
  New Orleans, LA 70118

  St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court 

  Wednesday, January 25, 2023
  09:00 am – 03:00 pm
  701 N. Columbia Street
  Covington, LA 70433

  Mid City Community Blood Drive 

  Wednesday, January 25, 2023
  11:00 am – 06:00 pm
  3500 Canal Street
  New Orleans, LA 70119

  LSU – Baton Rouge 

  Wednesday, January 25, 2023
  10:00 am – 04:30 pm
  Student Union
  Baton Rouge, LA 70803

  Tulane University 

  Thursday, January 26, 2023
  10:00 am – 03:00 pm
  31 McAlister Dr.
  New Orleans, LA 70118