Texas State House Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos (D-Richardson) wants everyone who can to get out and give blood.
“Alert,” Ramos said in Twitter and Facebook posts. “With hospital blood use up, the U.S. is experiencing a severe blood shortage. As a result, some elective surgeries are being delayed until the blood supply stabilizes, delaying crucial patient care. Your help is needed! Sign up to give blood ASAP.”
Ramos has represented Texas House District 102 since she was sworn into office in January 2019, having defeated Republican incumbent Linda Koop, taking almost 53% of the vote. This past November, Ramos again defeated Koop, this time taking almost 54% of the vote.
Texas House District 102 cuts through Dallas County and includes Addison, Richardson, Dallas and Garland.
Ramos’ call for blood donation comes at a time when the nation’s blood supply is critically low, in part because of the still on-going pandemic.
The pandemic made it difficult for people to get out and give blood, as well as for donation centers to receive it, and the blood drives that blood centers count on have been largely cancelled.
This month, the nation’s blood supply level dropped to “red,” dangerously low as measured by the AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism.
The platelets supply is too low to meet demand and some blood types are “critically low,” a trend expected to continued, the task force said in its biweekly blood products availability report issued June 22.
The task force, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross issued a joint statement on June 11 urging blood donations.
The American Red Cross last week recorded its lowest blood donor turnout since the pandemic began, down 11% from the average for this time of year, according to an ABC News report last week.
