The blood supply has now reached a critically low level. Following reports in recent weeks indicating the patient use of blood has been higher than blood donation, the continuing trend has resulted in a supply of less than two days for nearly all blood types.

Anyone who is or may be eligible to give blood is asked to find the nearest LifeShare location or mobile blood drive and make a donation as soon as possible. All blood types are needed and being used by patients daily. The only source for blood used in patient transfusion is a volunteer blood donor. In the LifeShare service area, several hundred blood donations are needed daily to fill patient needs.

The largest use of donated blood is for patients undergoing cancer treatment, in which case it is typically necessary to sustain the patient’s life. Others may need a blood transfusion as a result of a blood disorder, surgery, complications during childbirth, or a trauma accident.

“Approximately one in seven people entering a hospital require a blood transfusion. If we, as a community, expect medical teams to be able to help us in the best way possible during our time of illness or injury, we must make regular blood donations. During this critical time, we are alerting the community out of concern for everyone in the area who expects this life-saving resource to be available when they need it,” says Tina Hooper, spokesperson for LifeShare Blood Centers.

For more information call 800-256-4483 or go to http://www.lifeshare.org for a list of donation centers and blood drives.

LifeShare Blood Centers regularly supplies blood components to 117 medical facilities throughout Louisiana, East Texas and South Arkansas. Founded in Shreveport, La. in 1942, it is a nonprofit community service provider governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees.  LifeShare is a member of America’s Blood Centers and the American Rare Donor Program, is licensed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and accredited by AABB.

LifeShare Blood Centers is located at 4305 Laurel Street in Beaumont. Call 409-838-5289 or 800-256-5289 for more information.