Shelves empty at Lifeblood | Health

Lifeblood is in critical need of both blood and platelet donors.

The warmer months are traditionally low donation times, and this year is no exception.

“We have depleted our inventory of O+ units, and all other types are low,” said Jennifer Balink, vice president of donor relations for Lifeblood. “We need everyone to get involved today; hundreds of patients’ lives depend on volunteer blood donors.”

In addition to being out of whole blood units, Lifeblood is also in need of platelet donors.

Platelets are small, sticky cells in the blood that control bleeding and are vitally important when treating burn patients, chemotherapy patients, organ transplant recipients and victims of trauma. This particular need is so great, in part because, while whole blood has a 42-day shelf life, platelets last only 5 days from date of collection.

All eligible blood and platelet donors are urged to donate as soon as possible at any one of the six area donation centers.

Lifeblood’s Bartlett location, 7505 Highway 64, Suite 109, is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday and Friday, 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and  from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The center is closed on Wednesday.

Information provided by Lifeblood.