No one has ever heard of a blood surplus, simply because blood is something used in every hospital across America on a daily basis.
The pandemic has proved the enemy of making sure our available blood supply remains dangerously low in a time of great need. Since the beginning of COVID-19, over 3,000 blood drives have been canceled. The result of the cancellations has cost an estimated 60,000 units of blood to be lost over a four-month period.
The cancellation of blood drives was not the only thing that affected the procurement of blood. The stay-at-home orders enacted in the latter part of March have contributed to a drop in individual donation appointments as well. Now, as hospitals begin to offer elective surgeries again, as well as other forms of patient care, blood will be in high demand but low supply.
Hope is not lost, as there are ways to help elevate strain caused by the shortage. Versiti, a Midwestern nonprofit, will be hosting a webinar in regards to where and how you can help with the current crisis. This webinar will take place Thursday, July 16, at noon Central time. The CEO and CMO of Versiti will be providing information regarding current needs and how you could help save a life. If you are interested in attending, please use the following link to register versiti.zoom.us/webinar/register/.
We are at a critical point in how we handle this situation and everyone could play a role in the solution. More than ever before, we must come together to ensure the health and well-being of our communities. If you would like more information on Versiti, you may visit their website at versiti.org/about-us.

Image courtesy of cidrap.umn.edu