By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The national blood supply is continuing to decline local Red Cross officials say, and that could cause bigger problems.
Red Cross spokesperson Joe Zydlo says that the concern level of Red Cross officials is continuing to rise as the blood supply dips, and with that supply declining, that could make for some bigger issues.
"There's rising concern, it's sort of still the same, that's really the issue that we have, we have holiday celebrations that are continuing, and this is going back to Thanksgiving and now into December, " Zydlo tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And really, it's the blood level nationally continues to dip and it could force hospitals to hold off on essential blood transfusions for patients."
Zydlo says that means that anyone that needs a surgery like that, with no blood that surgery won't happen until hospitals get that blood.
Zydlo adds this decline is coming at a time the Red Cross normally sees some drop in blood donors with schools being out, more holiday get-togethers and winter weather.
Zydlo says that traditionally around the Christmas and New Year’s holiday Red Cross officials see a dip in donations, meaning that there is always one big need this time of year
"The main need is donors, of all blood types, really that's really the major key and that's really what we need to see," Zydlo says. "I think the demand is far outweighing the supply right now, and that demand has kicked up, over the last two months we've seen an increase of need for more blood products by 10-12%."
Zydlo says that typically nationwide the Red Cross needs about 13-thousand donations every day, but over the last two months it has needed an additional 10-thousand each week, due to the demand.
Zydlo adds in a blood shortage like this all blood types are needed, Type O negative being one of the most important, being the universal blood type that can be transfused to anyone.
Zydlo says that one of the biggest drops has been the number of new donors, adding at this time last year new donations surged as the Red Cross tested for COVID-19 antibodies.
But Zydlo says that this year new donors dipped nationwide by 34-35%, and in the bi-state area he covers of Missouri and Arkansas dipping 13%, and he says that's one of the factors in a perfect storm during the blood supply decline.
"It's a perfect storm, it's really a combination of a lot of factors, first time donor dip, that's certainly something there, the increase in needs for blood products due to the elective surgeries and more trauma situations, you know with more people being out and about on the roads, and I think that has a lot to do with it" Zydlo explains. "I think those are all factors, again, it's just the perfect storm
Zydlo says another factor in that storm is the time of year it is, with donations already dipping down around the holidays, especially with schools being out as 18-20% of Red Cross blood drives are at schools.
The Red Cross is urging people to get out and donate blood to help give some relief during this shortage. For information on blood drives in your area and how you can help, click HERE.