Photo courtesy American Red Cross

The American Red Cross, and other organizations that distribute blood products, report critical supply shortages across the Inland Empire this month. HASC reminds all health care providers that summer is an excellent time to discuss with their communities the need for blood donors — and the critical service that donors provide.

“We have an increase in the demand from hospitals, but our blood supply is low,” Dr. Rick Axelrod, of San Bernardino blood bank LifeStream, said this week. “We believe that, because the pandemic is ending, blood donations aren’t at the top of people’s to-do list.”

Supplies of blood and blood products are also low due to the resumption of elective surgeries in hospitals, a June 14 American Red Cross press release notes. Other causes are an uptick in organ transplants and emergency room visits.

Additionally, summer is traditionally a slow time for donations due to holidays, travel plans and a lack of blood drives, LifeStream’s Axelrod told the San Bernardino Sun newspaper.

Hospital and health system communicators can remind their neighbors that giving blood is an easy and safe process with convenient locations across communities. A June 21 story in the Riverside Press Enterprise and the San Bernardino Sun lists multiple locations for donors to give blood across the Inland Empire.

Shortages exist across the country, but are acute in San Bernardino County, Public Health Officer Michael A. Sequeira, MD said in an email last week.

“This is very clearly approaching a critical situation in our county,” he said. “Can we get the word out, please?”

But the shortage isn’t just an Inland Empire issue. Hospitals across the country are now delaying elective surgeries due to it – thereby delaying crucial care, the Red Cross statement says.

With questions, contact Adam Blackstone, HASC Vice President, External Affairs & Strategic Communications.

Contact:
Adam Blackstone
(323) 447-0864
ablackstone@hasc.org