Texas is facing a critical shortage of blood after last week’s winter storm forced local donation centers to close and blood drives to be canceled.
As of Monday, Carter BloodCare reported having less than a one-day supply of blood, putting hundreds of hospitals and medical facilities in North, Central, and East Texas at risk, according to a report from NBC 5.
Carter BloodCare’s donor centers were shut down Thursday and Friday due to dangerous road conditions caused by the storm. With no blood donations coming in during that time, the supply levels dropped drastically. Now, health officials are urging residents to donate blood as soon as possible to prevent a potential crisis in local hospitals.
The shortage is affecting blood types across the board, but Carter BloodCare has emphasized a particularly urgent need for A positive, A negative, B negative, O positive, and O negative blood. Platelets, which are essential for controlling bleeding, are also in high demand.
In an effort to encourage donations, Carter BloodCare is offering incentives for those who choose to donate. All blood donors will receive a $20 e-gift card through January 17. Additionally, those who donate whole blood or double red O negative blood will receive a $50 e-gift card. Platelet donors are also eligible for the $50 reward. As a special thank-you, those who donate in January and February will receive a free hooded long-sleeved shirt, while supplies last.
Carter BloodCare has reopened its donor centers and is once again able to accept donations at full capacity, per NBC 5. The non-profit organization is also hosting blood drives across the region, making it convenient for North Texans to help restore the blood supply.
No inclement weather is expected this week, as forecasters have anticipated sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s in North Texas for the remainder of the week.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports that while 40% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, only about 3% actually do.