Donation centers saw a sharp decline in donors during the holidays. This created a serious shortage. Hospitals still needed blood, but fewer people showed up to give. OneBlood in Tampa and Mississippi Blood Services in Flowood issued urgent calls for help as their supplies dwindled.
Pat Michaels with OneBlood explained that holiday travel pulled donors away. Busy schedules didn’t help either. “We have donors that come into the donor center here and will donate platelets that will go to a cancer patient within five days,” said Michaels, per FOX 13 News.
A car-crash victim might require up to 100 units to survive, doctors say. Difficult childbirths drain supplies too. So do surgeries and cancer treatments. Every hospital depends on stocked shelves, ready when patients arrive…