Blood at Critical Level:
Blood Inventory at Lowest Levels in Years

(San Antonio, Texas; February 20, 2007) The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is requesting all eligible donors to visit a donation facility or mobile blood drive as soon as possible, as the community’s critically low blood supply level continues to decline. While requests for blood from area hospitals and clinics has risen in the past two months, the number of donors has declined throughout the winter months.

As the number of new hospitals and clinics throughout the region increases, more blood donations are required to meet the needs of patients requiring transfusions. More than 500 donations must be collected every day, but fewer than 450 are received in the south Texas region.

“With Spring Break approaching and families preparing to take vacations in the coming weeks, we urgently request that they consider donating blood before their upcoming trips,” said Dr. Norman Kalmin, President/CEO and Medical Director of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center. “We expect the demand to continue rising, but the closer we get to Spring Break, fewer donors present at blood drives. The inclement weather in the northeast has led other blood banks to contact us for help, but STBTC faces the same challenges to meet local demands and cannot assist other centers”.

Kalmin added that hospitals may soon begin cancelling elective surgeries if donations do not increase. Elective surgeries range from knee replacements and hip surgery to non-life threatening orthopedic surgeries and hysterectomies.

“While many elective surgeries are necessary, we have to consider the needs of our most critical patients, and we may need to begin rationing blood,” said. Dr. Jacquelyn Vickrey, Baptist Health System Pathologist. “We have several open heart surgeries scheduled and an increased number of anemic patients. We urge all eligible blood donors to give blood as soon as possible.”

Anyone 17 years of age weighing at least 110 pounds and in good general health may donate blood. Donors must present photo identification. Donors should eat a light meal before their donation, and drink plenty of fluids, such as water and fruit juice, before and after donating.