As we head into the new year, blood banks are saying they are experiencing a shortage in blood supply, a struggle that is typical this time of year.
Blood Assurance Media Relations Coordinator Brooke Katz (Cats) said during the holiday season, people are usually out of town and are not thinking about donating blood. Katz said that this time of year is a bad time to have a short supply.
“You have so many people on the roads, there are more accidents that cause a need for blood to be transfused,” Katz said. “So we see this relationship between the donations being lower and the need being higher.”
Katz said as a non-profit, it is really hard to get people to donate blood. Katz said people should donate blood this New Year’s as it can end up saving someones life.
“Only about three percent of eligible donors give, so we are relying a lot on that three percent,” Katz said. “And it would mean so much if even one percent more, one percent more of the population would come out and donate, the difference it would make would be enormous.”
Katz said January is National Blood Donor Month. Katz said Blood Assurance uses the month to encourage businesses to be a host for blood drives throughout January, but also educate people about the need for blood donations.
“Almost as important as having people come through the doors is the education part,” Katz said. ” You know, I think a lot of the reason we have such a shortage of donors has more to do with just a lack of understanding that there is this giant need that doesn’t stop.”
Katz said some people don’t think about the need for blood until after a drastic event like a tornado, to line up and donate. Katz said every single day, there is someone in the hospital who needs a blood transfusion.
Katz said even if there is not a blood drive near you, Upper Cumberland residents can come to Blood Assurance’s Cookeville office to donate. Katz said Blood Assurance provides blood supply to Middle Tennessee Hospitals, including Cookeville Regional Medical Center.