NEW ORLEANS – The Blood Center needs donors to give blood after Tuesday’s storm. Several area blood drives were cancelled and left The Blood Center with low supplies available to area patients.
“With the loss of collections arising from the severe weather events, the time to donate is now to insure we have adequate inventory levels on hand to meet an unexpected disaster,” said Billy Weales, president and CEO of The Blood Center.
A three or more day supply of blood and blood components is needed to prepare for hospital emergencies, Center reps said. Unexpected events coupled with decreasing donations can severely impact transfusion demands.
“We need donors of all blood types, but especially O donors as well as plasma and platelet donations,” said Paul Adams, public relations manager for The Blood Center. “Medical procedures don’t stop due to the weather and patients needing blood transfusions rely on donors to maintain a healthy blood supply.”
The Blood Center, a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer Board of Directors, is the primary supplier of blood and blood components to more than 30 area hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. The Blood Center operates 12 donor centers in the Gulf South.
Every type is the right type, Center reps said, and while 60 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, less than 5 percent does it. To maintain a healthy and stable community blood supply, The Blood Center must collect between 300 to 350 pints of blood every day.
Blood Center reps said:
• Just one pint of blood can help save up to three lives
• Donating blood is safe, simple and easy
• The donation process takes less than an hour
• Someone needs blood every three seconds
Suggested donation sites in addition to The Blood Center’s 12 fixed donation sites include:
Feb. 10 – 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Harrah's New Orleans
512 S. Peters
New Orleans, LA 70130
Feb. 11 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Baskin-Robbins with LifeSongs Radio
3600 Williams Blvd.
Kenner, LA 70065
Feb. 12 – 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
K of C 8615 St. Cletus
3600 Claire Ave.
Gretna, LA 70053
Feb. 13 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
1440 Canal St., 1st Floor
New Orleans, LA 70119
Feb. 14 – 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Riverside Academy (Official Site)
332 Railroad Ave.
Reserve, LA 70084
Feb. 14 and 15 – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Norco Manufacturing Complex
Bloodmobile at Firehouse
15536 River Rd.
Norco, LA 70079
Feb. 15 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Freeport-McMoRan Center
1615 Poydras, 3rd Floor training room
New Orleans, LA 70112
Feb. 16 – 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Riverdale High School (Jefferson Parish, LA)
240 Riverdale Dr.
Metairie, LA 70121
Feb. 16 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charity School of Nursing
450 S. Claiborne
New Orleans, LA 70112
Feb. 16 – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
West Jefferson Medical Center Auditorium
1101 Medical Center Blvd.
Marrero, LA 70072
