[ad_1]
AUSTIN (KXAN) – After last Saturday’s mass shootings, Austin hospitals saw an increase in demand for donated blood. But when it comes to blood supply and hospital operations, the area’s hospitals are still working as expected with planned elective surgeries.
Representatives from Baylor Scott & White Health, Ascension Seton, and St. David’s HealthCare each said their systems did not have to postpone elective surgery due to limited blood supplies. Each of these hospital systems has a contract with We Are Blood, a blood donation center based in Austin.
RELATED: Some surgeries are delayed due to lack of blood, says the Red Cross
In a tweet on Monday, the Central Texas Red Cross said the organization is suffering from a lack of blood, adding that “some elective surgeries will be postponed until blood supply stabilizes.”
ATTENTION! With blood consumption in the hospital, the Red Cross is experiencing severe blood shortages. As a result, some elective surgeries are postponed until the blood supply stabilizes, which delays critical patient care. Your help is needed! Log in to give 🩸 asap: https://t.co/B80Dzq3TMj pic.twitter.com/GFBY5x7Veb
– Red Cross in Central TX (@RedCrossCSTR) June 14, 2021
Marty McKellips, chief executive officer of the Central and South Texas region, told KXAN on Wednesday there were shortages of blood type O and platelets, but the Red Cross is not signing contracts with Austin hospitals.
In a statement to KXAN on Wednesday, regional communications director Lucy Gale Walsworth said hospitals in the area are seeing more emergency rooms and trauma visits, leading to an increased need for blood donors.
TOP STORY: Dispute over teenagers escalated into mass shootings in Austin on 6th Street, affidavit reads
“When seconds count in emergency trauma situations, the blood already on the shelves can make all the difference in life-saving care,” she said in the statement. “With many people enjoying traveling and spending time with loved ones again this summer, patients rely on the generosity of donors to ensure they get access to the treatment they need. Please consider donating blood as a summer activity that can help save lives. “
“[Saturday’s mass shooting and resulting blood demand] was more than you would normally expect on a Saturday morning and more than a hospital to be kept ready for such an event. “
Nick Canedo, we’re the Vice President of Community Engagement for Blood
KXAN reached out to Gale Walsworth for specific information about hospitals in Austin with which the Central Texas Red Cross has contracts and the total number of elective surgeries postponed in the organization’s nine counties. The Central Texas Red Cross branch did not respond to inquiries at the time of publication.
Nick Canedo, vice president of community engagement at We Are Blood, said the organization is the primary supplier to more than 40 hospitals and clinics in central Texas.
In an interview with KXAN on Wednesday, he said that Saturday’s shooting represented increased and immediate demand for blood donations, especially given the organization’s status as the sole contractor of some hospitals.
“It is so important that after the Saturday morning shooting – that was a situation where a lot of different shot patients need blood transfusions and we are sending additional blood donations,” he said. “That was more than would normally be expected on a Saturday morning and more than a hospital to be ready for such an event.”
[ad_2]
