The American Red Cross supplies approximately 40-percent of the nation’s blood, all made possible by the kindness and generosity of volunteer donors.Â
With the rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts due to the highly contagious Delta variant and the start of flu season quickly approaching, it is critical that we all continue to follow COVID-19 safe behaviors. This includes wearing appropriate face masks, practicing hand hygiene, and maintaining social distancing.
We practice universal masking for all colleagues, physicians and visitors inside our hospital. If you are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19, we encourage you to strongly consider receiving the vaccine.
COVID-19 is not the only concern we face right now. Hospitals across the country, including East Cooper Medical Center, are experiencing critically limited supplies of blood and blood components as a result of a national blood shortage.
The American Red Cross supplies approximately 40-percent of the nation’s blood, all made possible by the kindness and generosity of volunteer donors. The American Red Cross is currently facing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise across the country, depleting the nation’s blood supply. Unfortunately, only about 3-percent of the eligible population donates blood each year. Blood cannot be manufactured, so the only source we have is donors.
You can help us rebuild our blood inventory so we can continue providing the best possible healthcare. We encourage all eligible individuals to please make an appointment to give blood now and help save lives.
There are several ways you can help combat this severe national blood shortage:
- If you are eligible to give blood or platelets, make an appointment to give now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
- Encourage others to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets.
- Consider hosting a blood drive so others can give – be it at your office location, place of worship or community organization.
We will host a blood drive at East Copper Medical Center on Friday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bloodmobile. You will soon be able to register for this blood drive by logging onto RedCrossBlood.org and entering your zip code. Otherwise, you can register on-site on October 8.
Every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood. Every day there are thousands of patients who rely on lifesaving blood donations. One donation can potentially save up to three lives. Your donation can truly make a difference.
Where there is a critical need, I am constantly amazed and inspired by the way our compassionate community rallies together to help. I hope that you will join us in this important effort to help ensure that blood continues to be available for patients with serious medical needs now and throughout the summer.
