Blood supply remains critically low following Memorial Day weekend

The regional blood supply, which was reported as critically low before Memorial Day continues to challenge the blood collecting agencies in Houston.
With very few donations made over the holiday weekend, the ability to meet patient transfusion requirements remains compromised.

Last Tuesday, The Blood Center reported orders for 519 units of type 0 positive and 255 units of type 0 negative it was unable to fill.

In many cases this means that surgery schedules at area hospitals have had to be rearranged to accommodate the most serious first.

It is very important that blood donors with these blood types donate as soon as possible. In this 24-county region, 700 blood donations are needed every day to maintain an acceptable supply. With the current shortage, outstanding orders must be completed before the regional inventory can be rebuilt. Blood donors must be 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good general health.

Donors may contact any of the following blood collecting agencies for their locations and hours of operation:

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center: 713-790-1200, 1-888-482-5663
The Methodist Hospital 713-441-3415
St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital: 332-355-4483,
UT, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 713-792-7777
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston: 409-772-4861