South Texas Blood & Tissue Center needing 2,000 donors to make up shortfall from weather closures
The unprecedented winter weather has left San Antonio and South Texas in a blood shortage emergency, with at least 2,000 donations lost by donor room closures and the cancellation of blood drives.
San Antonio Metro Health on Tuesday declared a blood emergency in the city, meaning there is not enough blood on hand to treat trauma cases and patients who need emergency surgeries and procedures that require blood.
The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, a subsidiary of nonprofit BioBridge Global, is asking donors to give when able to do so safely at its Donor Pavilion, Shavano Park and Northeast donor rooms. Those facilities are open during daylight hours Tuesday and Wednesday, but all blood drives have been canceled and the other donor rooms are not open.
Same-day appointments and walk-in donations are being accepted. Donors can call 210-731-5590 for information or to make an appointment, or they can visit SouthTexasBlood.org.
As the weather improves, the center expects to extend operating hours at all donor rooms Thursday-Sunday.
All donors will receive a $20 Amazon gift card through Sunday, Feb. 21, as well as donor reward points.
The center will be adding appointments this week as it works to rebuild the blood supply. All donors are asked to keep their appointments or call 210-731-5590 to reschedule and open a time for someone else to give.
