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Date: 10/20/2021
WESTERN MASS. – The American Red Cross recently made an appeal to the public, warning about the shortage of blood and platelet supplies in the commonwealth.
“We don’t use the term ‘emergency shortage’ these days but it’s important that people understand there is a shortage right now,” Keith Hall said.
Hall, a spokesman for the American Red Cross, said inventories typically see ups and downs, and usually show some degree of scarcity in the autumn but this year the shortage has hit a six-year low.
“In the last 18 months, as we’ve dealt with COVID [-19] we’ve seen shortages across the nation,” Hall said. “We’ve seen hospitals resume elective surgeries, and that’s stimulated an increase in demand.”
The American Red Cross, a principal source of blood supplies for area hospitals and clinics, has extreme reductions in blood stocks. Those shortages are not as bad as elsewhere. According to Hall, some areas have seen blood stores dwindle to a one day supply. Western Massachusetts supplies are not depleted to that extent, but medical facilities in the area are acutely aware of the need to conserve.
“The Red Cross and other national blood centers are projecting significant and sustained blood and platelet shortages for the remainder of the calendar year,” said Darlene Cloutier, director of systemwide laboratory operations for Baystate Health, which runs hospitals in Greenfield, Westfield, and other towns and cities. “At this time we are managing the inventory of blood products through judicious use … At this time no procedures are being delayed.”
According to Cloutier, Baystate Health has commitments in place with two other sources of blood. While the local shortage is not as bad as many other areas, the supply chain requires constant vigilance to prevent interruptions in medical services.
“The area shortage … is serious,” Cloutier said. “We manage (our) blood inventory with careful attention and are in constant communication with our blood suppliers to maintain critical levels of inventory.”
Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton also has sufficient blood stocks, though the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted availability.
“The shortage has been ongoing since earlier this year and is expected to continue with the ebb and flow of coronavirus infections,” said Christina Trinchero, marketing communications director for Cooley Dickinson Health Care, part of the Mass. General Brigham Health System. “Cooley Dickinson Hospital patients and programs have not been impacted by blood and blood product shortages in Massachusetts. We are able to perform surgeries and have ample blood supplies on hand in case of emergencies.”
Trinchero emphasized the hospital has not been forced to limit services. The need for fresh blood, however, is constant, according to Hall, the spokesman for the American Red Cross. He confirmed the need for fresh blood, especially in Types O-negative and O-positive, is relentless.
“We try to emphasize that blood doesn’t last very long,” Hall said. “Some types can last three days, or up to 30 days, but the need is constant.”
Hall said the need is most dire for donations of blood types O-negative and O-positive. A factor contributing to supply reductions is also the loss of traditional methods for securing blood from walk-in donors. The problem has also been complicated by the pandemic, according to Hall, and by the longstanding disappointment that only 10 percent of people ever donate blood.
“One of the limiting factors is, since COVID [-19] hit, we have social distancing we have to maintain,” Hall said. “We’ve lost about half of our blood donation sites. We’ve had to find new places to run mobile blood drives … Community blood drives, walk bys, we don’t do that anymore. Those are two challenges we’ve experienced, going on two years with COVID[-19].”
Area hospitals are well aware that the source of blood is local donors.
“How can the community help alleviate the blood shortage?” Trinchero asked. “Donate blood. There are American Red Cross facilities in Springfield.”
Cloutier, of Baystate Health, also requested that local residents donate blood to help meet future needs. “We are anticipating this through the end of this year and possibly beyond,” she said.
Hall pointed out that local donations assist local people. “Most people don’t care for needles, but your donation could help a neighbor, or someone in your city or town.”
Blood donations to the American Red Cross can be made at one of six centers in Massachusetts. The location of the nearest center can be found at https://www.redcross.org.