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The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (GCRBC) is reporting that the demand for blood from Houston hospitals has increased in the new year.
CW 39 News reports that the GCRBC has seen a 10% increase in overall blood products and 8% in red-blood cells.
"That is just due to the surgery schedule, trauma we have seen an increase in motor and violent crimes so the trauma victims has increased and also blood transfusions," Cameron Palmer, community development coordinator of Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center said, according to CW 39.
The GCRBC is currently seeking healthy blood donors and reports that donations are down 10%.
"A lot of the businesses we used to host blood drive’s with have shut down or moved to remote work," Palmer said, according to CW 39. "A lot of donors that used to come out are now working from home."
Individuals that have previously tested positive for the omicron variant are advised to wait 10 days after their symptoms dissipate to donate blood.
On Jan. 11, the American Red Cross declared its first-ever national blood crisis in the country, according to CW 39. The nonprofit organization released a statement imploring the public to consider the consequences of its worst blood shortage in more than a decade.
"Winter weather across the country and the recent surge of COVID-19 cases are compounding the already-dire situation facing the blood supply," Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross said, according to CW 39 News. "Please, if you are eligible, make an appointment to give blood or platelets in the days and weeks ahead to ensure no patient is forced to wait for critical care."
Approximately 10% of the decline in blood donations can be attributed to reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because of the shortage, the American Red Cross has had to limit shipments to hospitals, saying it had "less than a one-day supply of critical blood types."