Vitalant, a nonprofit blood bank serving Arizona, has declared a critical shortage in the state as blood suppliers have less than a two days’ supply of needed blood types.
To immediately boost blood supplies in Arizona, a Saving Arizona blood drive is scheduled for 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. Vitalant hopes to attract up to 600 donors to fulfill a full-day’s supply of blood for 62 Arizona hospitals, according to a release.
As Friday, Jan. 3, there is a critical need in Arizona for donors of all blood types — especially Type O, which is the universal blood that can be substituted for other blood types during emergencies, traumas and when shortages of other types arise.
In Arizona, there is less than a 1-day supply of O-negative and less than a 2-day supply of O-positive. Officials say they strive to maintain a 4-day supply of blood for each type.
Vitalant operates six Valley donor centers and hosts daily blood drives. It is a nonprofit community provider that fulfills blood transfusion needs for 100% of the hospitals in Maricopa County and 90% statewide.
Go to www.vitalant.org/SaveAZ to make an appointment at the Saving Arizona blood drive. Click here for donor centers and other blood drives.
Saving Arizona donors will be thanked with vouchers for a Streets of New York 10-inch cheese pizza and a one-day gate pass for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, courtesy of the event sponsors.
Currently, all blood types and components are in short supply, with a special need for platelets and type O blood donations, the release states. Platelets have a very short shelf life — five days. Type O-negative blood is the universal blood type that can help stabilize all patients.
In Arizona, officials need to collect 4,200 blood products per week to meet local patient needs.
Who’s at risk? Everyone from accident victims to newborns to seniors who may need:
- Red blood cells for trauma, surgery, emergencies
- Platelets and red blood cells to fight chronic disease — patients with cancer, hemophilia and sickle cell disease
- Plasma to stop the bleeding — burn patients and those with clotting disorders
“To all the blood donors out there — you have gone above and beyond to save my son’s life," stated Nathan’s mom, April. "Without blood transfusions I would have lost my little boy."
Nathan, a Casa Grande 5-year-old, was born with a rare blood disorder that causes his red blood cells to rapidly break apart, according to the release. Every month, he relies on the generosity of strangers to donate lifesaving blood — a need that will most likely continue the rest of his life.
In fact, Nathan will receive his 79th blood transfusion on Jan. 9. He and countless other children and adults with rare blood disorders and chronic disease need donated blood regularly.
