Southwest Florida blood supplies are critically low, but you can help

Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:

Blood centers across Southwest Florida say they need your help to ensure local blood supplies will continue to be available for patients. Blood supplies nationwide are dwindling, and local supplies are critically low.

According to Lee Health, “We have had at least 15 canceled blood drives through our mobile donation bus resulting in a significant loss of at least 300 units of blood in the past week. While our mobile donation bus is on hiatus, our blood centers are still accepting donations, and this is a great way for community members to continue to help others during this public health crisis. All blood donated at Lee Health remains here for use within our community. Giving blood remains safe, and helps save lives in our community.”

American Red Cross, South Florida Region is hosting a bloodmobile to support Lee Health loss of collection from COVID-19.

American Red Cross, South Florida Region, Florida’s Southern Gulf Chapter

7051 Cypress Terrace, Suite 110
Fort Myers, FL 33907
March 21 – 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
March 22 – 12-4 p.m.

The NCH Community Blood Center urges organizations and groups to maintain scheduled blood drives and for well and healthy donors to continue donating. Donating is a safe process, and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood or platelets.

They will also partner with the American Red Cross to hold a blood drive on Sunday, March 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2610 Northbrooke Plaza Dr., Naples 34119.

NCH Community Blood Center said in a press release:

“[We are] following universal precautions and following guidelines issued from CDC and FDA to keep our donors safe.

FDA warns in a joint press release with American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), & Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) that donors in are needed to come out in force to donate blood. “We need people to prevent the blood supply from getting depleted,” declares Dr. Peter Marks, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The blood supply cannot be taken for granted and the coronavirus only heightens the need for a ready blood supply,” says Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D. Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “The comments from the federal agencies come as the entire blood banking community is uniting in urging people to donate blood and for organizations to keep hosting blood drives,” according to the press release.”

Stay tuned on the latest coronavirus donor information www.givebloodcbc.org

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