Blood donations down as demand grows; Louisiana doctor asks public to help out

BATON ROUGE, LA. (Louisiana First) — As blood donations hit record lows and demand continues to rise, The Blood Center is urgently calling on the public to help replenish the supply, especially with the Fourth of July holiday and hurricane season approaching.

“Blood can only be made by a person. It’s made in our bone marrow,” said Dr. Tim Peterson, medical director at The Blood Center. “Unfortunately, we’re not able to synthesize it any other way.”

The Blood Center serves more than 35 hospitals, long-term care facilities, and same-day surgery centers across the region.

Dr. Peterson said that while trauma cases often make headlines, many patients rely on blood transfusions for routine and life-saving treatments like surgeries, chemotherapy, and organ transplants.

“It’s not always just the trauma situations that you hear about frequently on the news,” Peterson said. “It’s the patients who require blood on a regular basis.”

Summer months tend to see a sharp drop in donations, largely due to high schools and colleges being out of session, a key source of donors. With more people traveling for holidays, the potential for road accidents increases, raising the likelihood of emergency blood needs.

“There are a lot of people on the road, and that can set things up for trauma situations where blood is needed in a minute,” Peterson said. “Having an adequate supply at the hospitals ready to go for the emergency rooms that may need it is vital at this time of year.”

According to recent data, the number of annual U.S. blood donors has fallen sharply, from over 17 million in 2015. At the same time, an aging population and advances in medical care have pushed the demand for blood products even higher.

“You will literally save the life of someone who needs that blood transfusion,” Peterson said.

For those planning to donate, The Blood Center recommends staying well-hydrated, eating a balanced meal before arriving, and setting aside about an hour for the entire process. The actual donation takes less than 10 minutes.

To find a donation site or schedule an appointment, visit Locations | The Blood Center

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