Hurricane Delta's recent landfall in Southwest Louisiana forced the cancellation of many blood drives, as well as caused many donation centers to close. This resulted in the loss of over 400 anticipated donations of blood, according to Vitalent. The number is expected to climb with future canceled drives in areas hit hard by Delta.
Vitalent is asking residents to donate blood to rebuild the local blood supply from the losses experienced from Delta. Donations are needed regularly during and after a hurricane to help treat trauma victims, cancer patients, newborn babies, and more.
"With most of South Louisiana being affected by Hurricane Delta, Vitalant's ability to collect life-saving blood donations has been impacted," said Amanda Landers, Regional Director with Vitalant. "Blood donations are vital to the success of patient recoveries in our communities and can only come from generous blood donors. Please donate blood as soon as it is safe for you to do to replenish the blood supply."
Donations of all types are needed right now, but especially O-negative. As the universal blood type, O-negative can be transfused to all patients.
Vitalent has adjusted their centers' donation hours:
Sunday:
Lafayette - 7-2
Baton Rouge - 7-2
Morgan City - CLOSED
Lafayette - 1503 Bertrand Drive
Baton Rouge - 8234 One Calais (Service Road at I-10 & Essen)
Morgan City - 1234 David Dr. #102
Appointments are strongly encouraged. Schedule your appointment as soon as it is safe at vitalent.org or by calling 1-877-25-VITAL. Face coverings are required. All donations will be tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. For more information, please visit Vitalant.org/antibodytest. If you have recovered from COVID-19, are at least 28 days symptom free and are interested in donating convalescent plasma, please visit Vitalant.org/covidfree.
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