Chalk up yet another problem caused by severe weather like the storms that moved through the Chattanooga area last week.
Besides knocking down trees and power lines and, in some cases, putting lives and property at risk, inclement weather can also affect the blood supply. That was the case last week.
Blood Assurance is tasked with supplying many of the Chattanooga region’s hospitals, including Erlanger. A nonprofit, the organization describes itself as a full-service regional blood center and serves more than 70 health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Brooke Katz, the organization’s media relations coordinator, said in a news release Blood Assurance had a number of blood drives and appointments canceled due to last week’s storms.
“To replenish the supply, Blood Assurance is requesting donations from all donors in our service areas, including Middle and Eastern Tennessee, as well as Northwest Georgia,” she said in the release.
(READ MORE: Tornado confirmed as cleanup begins for Northeast Alabama)
Trauma wards, especially, see a spike in cases this time of year.
“It’s not uncommon, two or three times a week, for us to have a transfusion that calls for 50 or 60 units of blood,” said Dr. Robert Maxwell, trauma medical director at Erlanger, by phone. “It’s just a ton of blood.”
Whole blood is the most common form of donating, according to the Blood Assurance website. Whole blood is collected from the donor and taken to the laboratory, where it is separated into specific components, such as red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Donors can provide a whole blood donation every 56 days, according the website, and a whole blood donation takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Bad weather can inflate trauma cases, but so can the nice weather.
“Because of the warmer weather, people are more likely to participate in risky activities. So the summer months are really our busiest time of year,” Maxwell said.
Blood Assurance has been especially keen on acquiring plasma for the season.
“Plasma is a big need,” Blood Assurance CEO Liz Culler said by phone. “Our supply today is 20 units, and we’re in critical need when we have less than 100 units.”
She went on to say A plasma is in special demand because it’s used in patients before a blood type has been established and can help blood to clot.
The trick has been to get donors back to providing these essential supplies. The pandemic led to many challenges, as has the recent work-from-home culture change. With fewer people at work, Blood Assurance has fewer options for what had been a traditional source of blood drives. Culler also said younger people are less likely to donate — 17-year-olds are eligible and 16-year-olds are permitted with parental approval. But people 60 and older have shown up in strong support, she said.
In recent years, the organization has had more collection teams, totaling 42 employees. But demand has grown, too, as the organization has added clients. As a result, Culler said the organization often works from a deficit or at least lower supplies than it would prefer.
Now, it’s asking for help again.
Interested donors can visit bloodassurance.org/schedule, call 800-962-0628 or text BAGIVE to 999777 to schedule an appointment. Blood Assurance also accepts walk-ins.
(READ MORE: Storms threaten the South as a week of deadly weather punches through the US)
Contact William D’Urso at wdurso@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6125.