After partnering with Vitalant to host twelve successful blood drives at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH), French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC), Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals announced that enough blood was collected to save up to 1,485 lives.
Dignity Health and Vitalant collaborated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in a proactive effort to encourage community members to donate blood to bolster the critical blood shortage – a process that takes only an hour, and can save up to three lives.
At a time when many were cancelling due to COVID-10 fears and regulations, Dignity Health was eager to make safe accommodations to hold life-saving blood drives at each of its hospitals, offering both employees and community members to donate in a safe and sanitary environment.
Throughout the pandemic, many of the blood drives held at local schools, churches, community groups, and religious institutions – which represent more than 60% of the nation’s blood supply – were all but cancelled, and were critical to health care in our country.
In the wake of COVID-19, Vitalant continues to urge groups to organize blood drives and individuals to continue donating blood, unless local public health officials specifically direct otherwise.
Donations from O-negative donors, the universal blood type, are especially important. The current O-negative blood supply sits at an approximate two-day supply, which is half of the ideal quantity needed to support patient needs. Additionally, platelet donations, which have a shelf-life of only five days, are always in high demand. However, donors of all types are needed.