Emergency Blood Shortage In Illinois, Donations Needed, Center Says

ILLINOIS — Illinois is in the midst of an emergency blood shortage and donors are urgently needed, blood donation center officials said Monday.

Versiti Blood Center of Illinois has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations due to a dangerously low blood supply. Certain blood types have less than a day's worth of availability, officials said, endangering the lives of local patients. Summer donations have plummeted to critical levels, with over 4,963 appointments missed in the past month alone.

All blood types are needed, with O-positive and O-negative being the most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be safely received by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown.

"We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire," said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. "Patients’ lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.”

In addition to unfilled appointments and a rise in cancellations and no-shows, Versiti’s partner hospitals have required a significant volume of blood this past month to support organ transplant procedures and other traumas.

"The demand for blood simply does not match the number of donors coming through our doors," said Waxman. "While we deeply appreciate our loyal donors who consistently show up, it's important to recognize that about 3 percent of people who are eligible to donate blood actually do. If it's been a while since your last donation or you're a first-time donor, we are excited to welcome you."

What happens if blood is not available for patients?

• When the local blood inventory gets as low as it is now, it jeopardizes the health and safety of patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions. In some cases, hospitals are forced to postpone surgeries or delay critical treatments.
• Trauma victims from car accidents or shootings are at the highest risk, as their survival often depends on a healthy blood inventory. If these types of cases occur in the coming days, we might not have the blood needed to keep them alive.
• Patients undergoing organ transplants and battling cancer, and even mothers in labor, could face treatment delays or complications due to a limited blood supply.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call (800) 786-4483 or visit versiti.org. Walk-in donors are also welcome.

Donor center locations:

• TINLEY PARK: 16100 Centennial Cir.
• WESTMONT: 6317 S. Fairview Ave.
• BLOOMINGDALE: 398 W. Army Trail Rd.
• NAPERVILLE: 1297 S. Naper Blvd.
• WINFIELD: 27W281 Geneva Rd.
• JOLIET: 2625 W. Jefferson St.
• GENEVA: 2000 W. State St., Unit 1E
• AURORA: 1200 N. Highland Ave.
• ELGIN: 1140 N. McLean Blvd.
• CRYSTAL LAKE: 6296 Northwest Hwy.
• YORKVILLE: 728 E. Veterans Pkwy., Suite 112
• DEKALB: 2428 Sycamore Rd.
• HIGHLAND: 2126 45th St.

American Red Cross also has blood donation centers in Illinois, and a list can be found online. Vitalant also operates donation centers.

Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone aged 16 or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors aged 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.