Sheridan Blood Drive Underway To Address Emergency Blood Shortage

It’s considered to be the gift of life, but the quantity is very low in the Sheridan area and regionally.

Vitalant, which is a blood service organization, is hosting a community blood drive at the Sheridan Best Western Inn on Monday and Tuesday.

Tori Robbins, who is the communications manager for Vitalant, says the company prefers to have a certain amount of blood ready for use when it’s needed, but that quantity has been dwindling, and has created an emergency blood shortage.

“We saw over the summer about a 50% drop in blood donations. We have dipped below that 2-days on hand of each blood type. We strive to have 4-days on hand of each blood type, and then when we got closer to about a day, a day-and-a-half on hand of O positive and O negative, that’s when the situation turned to emergency blood shortage, because those are the 2 most transfused blood types.”

Robbins adds that if you are considering donating blood or need to receive a blood transfusion and you’re afraid of needles, the phlebotomists have extra tricks to help you calm down, when it’s time to insert the needle.

Some people have no choice but to receive a blood transfusion on a regular basis and they’re the ones who are the most concerned about the emergency blood shortage.

“There’s not a pill, there’s not a shot that we can substitute if that donated blood isn’t there, and the majority of blood usage is a planned event, so it’s people who have medical conditions that they’re using blood on a regular basis.”

Click here for more information or to schedule an appointment to donate.