ImpactLife is urging Quad Citizens to donate blood in the wake of the devastating fires in southern California.
In a Monday, Jan. 13, news release, ImpactLife said it has received a request for blood components from a hospital there whose own blood supply has been impacted by the wildfires. According to the center, blood collection in Los Angeles and the surrounding region has been limited by the fires spreading across the region. Evacuation orders, power outages, and widespread fire damage is causing both cancellations of drives and individual donors’ scheduled appointments. Meanwhile, patient care at hospitals in the region continues so outside support is needed to replenish blood inventories.
While ImpactLife said its current blood inventory levels allow it to share resources with the western counterpart, the blood center hopes to increase its appointment schedules in and around the Quad Cities region to help replace those donations and to ensure its ongoing ability to meet patient needs.
In addition, ImpactLife said across its organization it also has been hit by a number of canceled blood drives and donor center closings due to this week’s winter storms in Missouri and Illinois. It estimates approximately 300 donations have been lost to weather since Sunday, January 5.
After receiving the southern California hospital’s request, ImpactLife’s Inventory Management & Distribution team responded by preparing a shipment of O-negative red blood cells and platelets to be sent by air to Los Angeles.
Type O, platelets in demand
Type O red blood cells are frequently used in emergency response because it is the universal blood type that can be transfused to recipients of all blood types. Platelets also are in high demand because they must be used within seven days of donation.
This marks the second time in the past two weeks ImpactLife has been asked to support the blood supply in response to a major crisis in the United States (including the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans).
In November, ImpactLife celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Quad Cities. With donor centers in Davenport, west Davenport and Moline, is encouraging donors to book an appointment by calling (800) 747-5401, or scheduling online at www.bloodcenter.org, or with the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
As an incentive, ImpactLife will provide all blood donors through Friday, Jan. 31, with a voucher to redeem for their choice of an electronic gift card, a donation to a local food bank, or points to redeem in the Rewards Store.
