South Texas’ blood supply not yet recovered from winter storm disaster
While South Texans have stepped up by the thousands to donate blood since last week’s winter weather, patient needs continue to outpace donations. The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center continues to work closely with local and area hospitals to manage the limited blood supply:
- Last week’s severe weather and power outages meant South Texas Blood & Tissue began this week with a deficit of almost 3,000 blood donations.
- More than 2,000 units were collected from Friday, Feb. 19 though Monday, Feb. 22.
- But hospital orders for blood are still outnumbering donations. On Monday the center sent out 120 more units of blood than it collected.
- Over the weekend, a single trauma patient needed 100 units of type O blood.
- A patient receiving a heart transplant and one with serious bleeding required 60 units of blood on Tuesday, Feb. 23. On the same day, another hospital asked for 60 units for another patient with serious bleeding and 30 units for a liver transplant patient.
- Orders for blood continue to run higher than in February of 2020. Blood inventory remains at the critical level with only a half-day supply of type O blood, which is most needed in emergencies. San Antonio remains under a blood shortage emergency declared last week by Metro Health.
Community blood drives have been added and more appointments opened at South Texas Blood & Tissue Center donor rooms. Additionally, operating hours have been extended at the Donor Pavilion, located at 6211 IH 10 West at First Park Ten Boulevard, on Friday and Saturday. Donors can make an appointment with the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center by calling 210-731-5590 or visiting SouthTexasBlood.org. Same-day appointments are available at the center’s seven donor rooms, as well as at community blood drives.
The center also will be accepting walk-in donors as space allows.
