BEAUMONT, Texas — The American Red Cross says the nation is facing its worst blood shortage in more than a decade, citing a drop in blood drives due to the pandemic.
The organization said that the "national blood crisis" is threatening patient care and forcing doctors to make tough choices about who is able to receive blood transfusions, and it's urging people to donate.
We've compiled a list on where Southeast Texans can donate blood and plasma.
This is not an exhaustive list, please email us at 12News@12NewsNow.com with more information you may have about blood donation centers.
7180 Eastex Freeway Beaumont, TX, 77708
(409)-291-7753
85 N. 23rd Street Beaumont, TX 77707
(409)-835-7268
4997 N. Twin City Hwy, Suite 130 Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409)-300-3201
4305 Laurel Street Beaumont, TX 77707
(409)-838-5289
LifeShare Blood Center supplies dozens of hospitals in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas with hundreds of blood products each day. This blood treats critical patients who are still undergoing treatment for cancer, heart disease, and blood disorders.
Due to low blood inventory, and high demand for blood products, LifeShare is currently rationing blood to hospitals in order to fulfill the needs of our areas most critical patients, according to a LifeShare news release.
Since the recent Omicron surge LifeShare has seen a dramatic decrease in blood donors. Unlike with previous Covid-19 surges, local hospitals are still preforming their normal operations, and thus, the need for blood has not decreased.
Currently, LifeShare is running on a critically low inventory.
As of Wednesday morning, LifeShare had only seven units of O negative blood in Beaumont. O negative is the universal blood type and is often given to mothers and infants. One out of every three people will use blood at some point in their life.
LifeShare encourages healthy adults to make a donation appointment at a donor center, or visit any LifeShare mobile blood drive in their community.