The threat of hurricanes affects Floridians in so many ways that many may overlook some valuable community services they provide under normal weather conditions.
Among these are giving blood. Cancellations of blood drives, spurred by Tropical Storm Fay, coupled with overall low donor turnout and continuing patients’ needs, has left Tampa Bays’ community blood supply at dangerously low levels.
Within a week’s time, Florida Blood Services issued 1,100 more units of blood than were donated, the nonprofit agency said. Summer is always difficult for blood banks to keep the supply up to meet patients’ demand because of high school donors and others being on vacation.
“This challenge was compounded this (last) week with the uncertainty of where Fay was headed causing blood drive cancellations and a drop in donations at existing drives. We have imported 35 units of single donor platelets this week but have been unsuccessful in trying to ship in units of types O negative and A negative blood from other blood centers,” said J.B. Gaskins, Florida Blood Services vice president, in a news release.
Homeland Security guidelines call for a five- to seven-day blood supply to be maintained to be prepared for any disaster. Tampa Bay blood supplies, as of last week, were only at a one- to three-day level depending on blood type.
Florida Blood Services provides for the blood needs of patients at 37 hospitals in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, through the generosity of volunteer blood donors. More than 800 donations are required daily, due to the high quality of medical care in Tampa Bay that serves the most critically ill patients throughout west central Florida.
Through screening and extensive checking, donors’ blood pressure, pulse, iron levels and cholesterol are checked. Donors recognize the service they provide is invaluable and that the time they spend at the blood bank is a small sacrifice to pay for the lives they help save.
Some potential donors may be squeamish about having needles stuck in their arm. That’s understandable. But hoards of people have overcome that fear and have become lifelong donors.
