Illinois

As Hospitals Get Busier, Need For Blood Donations Rises

WCBU | By Dana Vollmer

Published June 10, 2020 at 1:24 PM CDT

From left: OSF Saint Francis clinical laboratory scientists Katie Middeton and Nicole McGill join MVRBC's Jim Watts in calling for blood donors.

The shortage of blood donations due to the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming more troublesome, as patient traffic at area hospitals revs back up.

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center—which provides blood products to hospitals in Peoria, Canton, Bloomington, and Galesburg, among other areas—is calling for those who are healthy and able to consider donating.

Katie Middleton is a clinical laboratory scientist at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center — one of MVRBC's partners. She said the need for donations became more urgent as hospitals resumed admitting patients for procedures.

"We're starting to have more surgeries again, and with that, there's an increase in the use of blood products," Middleton said. "So, as our donations have gone down, our need has gone back up."

That's on top of the need generated by COVID-19 patients and the spike in trauma patients the hospital typically sees in the summer.

Jim Watts, donor relations manager for MVRBC, said it's a quick and easy way to help out the community.

"If someone's looking for something to do — they want to get out and about — then donating blood is perfect for them," Watts said. "Unfortunately, we've seen other events throughout central Illinois be canceled. Blood donation is not one of them."

Watts said extra steps are being taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure. All staff and donors are required to where face masks and undergo screenings for signs of infection. Donors are also required to make an appointment, so people can be adequately spaced out.

There's an urgent need for all blood products, Watts said, including red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Some donors are able to provide multiple blood components.

Donors can schedule an appointment at the MVRBC Peoria Donor Center by visiting bloodcenterimpact.org or calling (800)747-5401.

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