Local hospitals almost completely out of blood amid surge in COVID-19 patients
Some hospitals are just days away from running out of blood amid a critical shortage like never before.
The low supply is affecting already stressed hospitals in the Triangle.
If you donate blood through the American Red Cross Center in Durham, it is processed and then sent out to save lives.
The problem is the supply is scarce and local hospitals are having to make tough decisions about critical procedures.
“We are managing day-to-day, hour to hour at this time,” said Garrett Reid, the Biomedical Executive for American Red Cross.
Officials with The Blood Connection in Raleigh also said they were struggling to fill demand. The Blood Connection is the blood provider for more than 30 hospitals in the Triangle, including UNC Rex and WakeMed Health Hospitals.
"UNC Health’s hospitals work closely with The Blood Connection and the Red Cross to ensure that we have steady supply," spokesman Alan Wolfe said.
"We are also being proactive in trying to help with the situation. UNC Rex is hosting a blood drive on Monday, Jan. 17, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The drive will be held outside our main hospital in Raleigh, as well as at our Wellness Centers in Garner, Cary, Wakefield and Knightdale."
“As far as the blood supply – we are currently in critical need of all blood types," according to a spokesperson at The Blood Connection. "Our inventory is low and donor turnout is even worse, especially as we’re in the winter months. The Blood Connection relies on community blood donors to ensure there is an adequate and stable supply of blood to treat patients in need and The Blood Connection needs to see about 800 donations a day to maintain our supply across all of our regions."
The American Red Cross gave WRAL News an inside look at their Durham laboratory where staff carefully processed each unit of blood.
"That unit of blood is going to be manufactured into one sometimes three different products to be able to service the various needs of our local patients,” Reid said.
As COVID-19 surges within the Triangle, blood supply is limited as patients are at the greatest need.
“We are having to triage and manage inventory extremely closely, working with our hospitals to make sure that critical cases are of course the priority," he said. "Right now, I would say we are on less than a one day supply to meet certain needs here in the community."
Officials with Duke Health say their hospital system is operating with around 30 to 50% of its normal blood supply. At Cape Fear Valley Medical Hospital, conditions are more dire. Hospital officials there say they only have 25% the amount of blood they normally had.
A spokesperson with Cape Fear said just a few extra patients could completely wipe out the hospital’s type O supply.
“It’s something we’ve kept an eye on,” said Dr. Lisa Pickett, the Chief Medical Office at Duke University Hospital.
For now hospitals are managing, she said, but if this trend continues the road ahead will be tough.
“It is something that we’re going to have to continue to work through in the coming months ahead,” Reid said.
It’s easy sign up for an appointment to donate at Red Cross online or give them a call at 1-800-435-7669.
People can donate blood at the American Red Cross office in Raleigh off North Peartree Lane or through The Blood Connection, with locations across the Triangle.
