RI facing 'blood emergency': Here's how you can help

With the supply of some blood types down to just two or three days, the Rhode Island Blood Center has declared " a blood emergency " and has enlisted Gov. Dan McKee and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in helping urge Rhode Islanders to give blood.

A drop in donations over the last several weeks has been "a strain on the region's blood supply during the critical summer months," the Blood Center said in a news release.

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is often referred to as "trauma season" because of an increase in injuries, the Blood Center said. About 25% of trauma patients need blood transfusions, but they're not the only ones; cancer patients, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients and many other patients rely on blood transfusions.

Most needed are types O-, O+, and B-, supplies of which are well below the optimal level of 5 to 7 days, the Blood Center said. Type O+ is the most common blood type, represented by 40% of the U.S. population, but the inventory for type O blood is the lowest it's been since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blood Center said. A type O shortage is being reported across the country, according to the Blood Center.

Blood donations typically decrease in the summer

Donations can fall in the summer because of travel, school breaks and "busy summer schedules," according to the Blood Center.

"The need for blood donations in Rhode Island is crucial now more than ever before," McKee said. "I urge all eligible Rhode Islanders to come together to tackle this emergency, save lives and promote healthy communities. Please make an appointment today."

Dr. Dean Roye, senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer at Rhode Island Hospital, said, "Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital are the only Level 1 Trauma Centers in southern New England. This means we rely on blood donations to provide life-saving services. I would encourage everyone who can donate blood to join me in doing so."

"Lifesaving blood is not only essential for disasters but for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses, traumatic injuries, and for the treatment of our most vulnerable patients, premature infants,” said Jack Tanner, director of the NICU and respiratory care at Women & Infants Hospital. "Women & Infants Hospitalannually cares for approximately 1,200 critically ill infants who require blood because they are not yetable to produce their own red blood cells. Donating blood allows someone to help save a life.”

Check the Rhode Island Blood Center's website for information on donating blood.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI facing 'blood emergency': Here's how you can help