Hurricane Laura Impacts Ability to Collect Lifesaving Blood Donations
Vitalant Donation Center Closures and Cancelled Blood Drives result in over 250 lost donations
LAFAYETTE, LA –The year of 2020 has sent us yet another curveball. With a tropical storm and hurricane impacting Louisiana only days apart, Vitalant must make adjustments while still ensuring patients have the blood they need. The closure of Vitalant’s blood donation centers and the cancellation of all mobile blood drives through Friday, has resulted in the loss of over 260 anticipated donations. However, during a storm, the use of blood in hospitals to help save the lives of patients does not stop.
Vitalant asks that all well and healthy donors donate blood before or after the storms, when it is safe for you to travel. Your donation will help secure the blood supply prior to the storm or will help us replenish what is lost after the storms pass. Donations of all blood types are needed.
Due to the recent developments of Hurricane Laura, Vitalant in Louisiana has adjusted donor center hours of operation to ensure the safety of our staff and donors.
Lafayette Vitalant Donation Center (1503 Bertrand Dr.):
Wednesday, August 26 – 7am to Noon
Thursday, August 27 – CLOSED
Friday, August 28 - TBD
Unplanned events such as hurricanes cause a loss of donations; however, blood usage does not stop during these events and in some cases, blood use can increase. Vitalant remains committed to ensuring a safe blood donation experience for our donors at our donation centers. Please follow our Facebook page at Facebook.com/VitalantLA for the most up-to-date changes.
Make your appointment now at Vitalant.org or call 1-877-25-VITAL (258-4825).
In order to effectively uphold social distancing standards, appointments are strongly encouraged. Face coverings are required for all donors and staff. Please come to your donation with a face covering that covers both your nose and mouth.
All successful blood 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.
As one of the nation’s foremost blood providers and transfusion medicine research centers, Vitalant is simultaneously leading the effort to restore the local blood supply and ensure that patients and hospitals in Louisiana have stable blood inventories. The U.S. Surgeon General and Federal Emergency Management Agency have designated blood donation as an essential function, encouraging healthy and eligible donors to continue to donate even amidst COVID-19 response measures. Vitalant continues to intensify precautionary measures to ensure the safety of donors, patients and staff.
About Vitalant
Vitalant ("Vye-TAL-ent") is a national community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. Vitalant inspires local communities to serve the needs of others and transform lives through the selfless act of donating blood. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalant's 800,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more. For more information and to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Join the conversation about impacting the lives of others on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about Vitalant's COVID-19 efforts, visit vitalant.org/COVIDfree