Licking County facing blood, staffing shortage amid 'national blood crisis'

The Licking County chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking the community's help amid a national blood crisis including the local area.

According to Rod Cook, director of the east central Ohio chapter of the Red Cross, their agency tries to keep about a five-day supply of blood products on their shelves. He said they are currently under a one-day supply.

"We are in a national blood crisis and what that means is we have more blood products going out the door and demand is higher than our inventory," he said.

He explained the crisis is caused by several factors, including staffing issues and the cancellation of blood drives due to COVID-19.

"Locally, probably the biggest factor driving our issues with inventory is staffing," he said. "We are struggling with volunteers, but for the most part, our volunteers have been wonderful about stepping up to help in spite of all the risks that are involved."

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However, their blood collection staff are authorized to take blood donations. Cook said their staff continuously have to quarantine because of contracting COVID-19 or being exposed to the virus. He noted the exposures are primarily from the staffs' personal lives as opposed to through blood drives.

"What we are doing is trying to encourage everybody to make sure they make an appointment to donate blood," Cook said. "Keep that appointment. But if for some reason you can't keep that appointment, please cancel that appointment immediately so that will open a slot for someone else to get into that blood drive."

The Red Cross supplies 40% of the nation's blood supply. And it typically issues seasonal alerts for needed donations, usually when people are on vacation and can't donate.

But with shortages of personnel and blood, the situation has become especially dire, Marita Salkowski, Red Cross communications director for the central and southern Ohio region, recently told The Dispatch.

"It's the first time we're using the word 'crisis,'" she said.

Nationally, an almost two-thirds drop-off in blood drives has been seen at schools, fueled by a reluctance to participate due to fear of COVID-19 exposure, she said.

In the central and southern Ohio region, there were about 80 canceled blood drives in December due to lack of staffing to hold them, Salkowski said.

Blood and platelet donations are in critical need. Platelet donation requires a special machine to extract the binding and healing cells before returning blood to a donor. It may take three hours, compared to blood donations that takes 30 minutes or less.

Those having Type O blood, the universal blood type often used for emergency infusions, are especially needed, officials say.

Cook said the agency is also constantly seeking volunteers, so that's another way the community can help.

To make an appointment to donate blood, visit RedCross.org or download their smartphone application and create an account. For more information about becoming a volunteer, visit their website.