posted August 27, 2024

Red Cross declared emergency blood shortage citing a 25 percent decrease in inventory

LEBANON, PA, Aug. 27, 2024 – Air Methods’ WellSpan WellFlight air medical program is partnering with the American Red Cross for the upcoming “Communities Coming Together” blood drive on Aug. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at their base located at the Lebanon Emergency Dispatch Center, 1805 Cornwall Road in Lebanon, PA.

The WellSpan WellFlight team carries whole blood on every flight, enabling their industry-leading trauma clinicians to provide additional pre-hospital care when every minute counts. However, in July, the Red Cross blood declared an emergency blood shortage as supply dropped significantly.

“Our national inventory plummeted more than 25 percent with this summer’s record-setting heat being a significant contributor to recent blood collection challenges,” said American Red Cross Account Manager Tiffany Brown. “With heat affecting drives in nearly every state where the Red Cross collects blood. It has further compounded other typical seasonal obstacles to blood donation, such as vacation travel and summer activities.”

With high temperatures expected through the month of August, the WellFlight team and its Red Cross partner hope the back-to-school routines will help to drive up blood donations.

“It’s the gold standard for providing lifesaving care,” said WellSpan WellFlight Clinical Base Lead and Flight Nurse Bob Salvatico. “When used, it has proven that moderately to severely injured patients, including those with head injuries, particularly benefit from whole blood transfusions.”

As WellFlight carries their own blood supply, it allows their clinicians to administer it when needed while preserving hospital stock. Having blood products to administer at the scene of a traumatic event or in flight, coupled with rapid air transport, can tremendously improve the outcomes of critically ill or injured patients, which makes the need for a strong blood supply so critical.

“We appreciate the partnership with WellFlight to help increase awareness and drive the need for donors to increase our blood supply,” said Brown. “Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled and can only be made available through the kindness of volunteer donors. It’s the blood on the shelves now that helps during an emergency.”

Donors will be given a $20 Amazon.com gift card via email. To streamline the donation experience, visit the Red Cross Rapid Pass website.