Critical need for blood donations in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Health officials at the Our Lady of the Lake Blood Center say they are dealing with a concerning blood shortage of o-positive and o-negative blood.

“For a level one trauma center in a major healthcare facility in our city that is just an untenable position,” said Jay Thomas, Lab manager for blood donor services at the Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.

“We have a lot of accidents that come in every single day and some of those patients need blood if they need it urgently, so it is important that we have good supplies in our hospitals so that we can take care of those patients,” said Mark Laperouse, Medical Director of Emergency Services.

According to Thomas, there is one day’s worth of the O-negative and O-positive blood on hand and doctors could be forced to cancel or transfer future surgeries.

“In very extreme cases it could also mean that we don’t have the blood necessary to care for a patient involved in a motor vehicle accident or a gunshot wound or any other tragedies that could happen in our community, we may not be prepared for that,” said Thomas

While the o-negative and o-positive blood supply is urgently low, health officials say all blood types are needed.

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