Published by Kirby Winn on Friday, January 10, 2025 in News Releases
ImpactLife has responded to a request for blood components from a hospital in southern California that has seen its blood supply impacted by wildfires. Blood collection in Los Angeles and the surrounding region has been limited by fires now spreading across the region. Patient care at hospitals in the region continues, however, so outside support is needed to replenish blood inventories.
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Evacuation orders, power outages, and widespread fire damage is leading to a high level of blood drive cancellations and blood donors who are unable to make it to a scheduled appointment for blood donation in the affected region. Faced with a decreasing supply of available blood components, a hospital in southern California has turned to ImpactLife for help. The blood center's Inventory Management & Distribution team has responded by preparing a shipment of O-negative red blood cells and platelets to be sent by air to Los Angeles as soon as possible.
To book an appointment for blood donation, call (800) 747-5401, or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or with the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
This is the second time in the last two weeks ImpactLife has been asked to support the blood supply in response to a major crisis occurring elsewhere in the United States (including the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans).Amanda Hess, Vice President, Donor Relations and Marketing for ImpactLife, highlights the importance of keeping a strong and stable blood supply at all times.
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Type O red blood cells are frequently used in emergency response, because this is the universal blood type that can be transfused to recipients of all blood types. Platelets are also in high demand because they must be used within just seven days of donation. While current blood inventory levels allow ImpactLife to share resources with its counterpart in southern California, the blood center is now looking to increase its appointment schedules to help replace those donations and to ensure its ongoing ability to meet patient needs within its Midwestern service region and to continue supporting outside the region, as needed. ImpactLife has also experienced a number of canceled blood drives and Donor Center closings due to this week’s winter storms in Missouri and Illinois, and estimates approximately 300 donations lost to weather since Sunday, January 5.
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ImpactLife Donor Promotions
Through January 31, all donors will receive a voucher to redeem for their choice of an electronic gift card, a donation to a local food bank, or points to redeem in the Rewards Store. For more information, see www.bloodcenter.org/now.
- WHOLE BLOOD (all locations) $20 gift card or $20 donation or 1,000 points
- DOUBLE RED CELL DONATION (all locations) $25 gift card or $25 donation or 1,500 points
- PLATELET APHERESIS OR PLASMA (all locations) $30 or $30 donation or 2,000 points
ABOUT IMPACTLIFE
ImpactLife's mission is to save lives by engaging donors, supporting partners, and advancing medicine. Founded in 1974, ImpactLife supplies blood products and services to hundreds of hospitals, emergency services organizations, clinical researchers, and other blood centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The nonprofit blood provider is ranked among the leading 12 blood suppliers in the United States. For more information on current blood inventory levels, our donor promotions, and more, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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