More surgeries post-pandemic mean a greater need for blood

The Blood Connection, a local blood collection center, asked medical professionals Thursday to speak about a crucial need for more blood donors.

It's the blood that's already on the shelves that saves lives, speakers reminded during the emergency press conference, adding medical centers need a consistent dedicated blood donation supply at all times.

"Despite considerable effort, we cannot keep up pace with the unprecedented need for blood right now," said Delisha English, the CEO and president of Blood Connection.

Blood also has a shelf life of just over one month, so it cannot be stockpiled, furthering the need for constant donation. The shelf life for platelets is between three to five days.

Smith is a pathologist at UNC Rex Hospital involved giving patients blood from the hospital laboratory. More people are getting surgeries than in the height of the pandemic, so the demand for blood is up, he said.

"I think it's important to remember that, although on TV, we often see that blood is used for trauma car crashes, that is not the most common use," Smith explained, adding that blood is most often used at UNC Rex for heart surgeries and in obstetrics patients who have a bleeding crisis after delivery.

It is also necessary for children with sickle cell anemia and people with cancer and other blood disorders that require a constant blood supply.

On a typical weekday, 40 to 50 patients at UNC Rex receive blood, Smith said.

Spokespeople for UNC Health Care, Duke Health and WakeMEd also called the lack of blood a state of emergency.

"We are putting 4,500 critically injured patients into our trauma registry each year, and some of those patients require as much as 50 to 100 units of blood products in their initial resuscitation," said Dr. Osi Udekwu, the director of trauma services at WakeMed.

Speakers said the blood shortage is in part due a decrease in donations during the pandemic and as people stay busy during summer travel.

Currently, The Blood Connection is giving out gift cards as a thank you for donating.

"Blood that is shipped from our hospitals is paid on a cost-recovery basis. So, for what it costs to collect the blood, process it and test it is how the hospitals and their fees are based," said English.

All of The Blood Connection locations need about 800 donors to keep up with the pace of demand.

Businesses and other groups can help by hosting a blood drive, and individuals can visit The Blood Connection website to find a donation opportunity nearby