“Blood Emergency” declared by Blood Bank of Delmarva as reserves dwindle

DELMARVA – The Blood Bank of Delmarva declared a Blood Emergency on Monday. urgently calling for donors as supply levels dwindle.

The Blood Bank typically sees a decline in donations around the holidays, but this year the drop-off has been earlier and steeper than expected.

Their goal is to maintain a seven day reserve of blood for use in surgeries and treatments in Delmarva hospitals, but the reserves of some critical blood-types have fallen to less than a one day supply.

“Type O blood, doesn’t matter if it’s O-positive or O-negative, are the most in-demand at the hospitals by far. So when those levels get low, you get concerned and you reluctantly declare a blood emergency, as we did today,” said Tony Prado with the Blood Bank of Delmarva.

With Friday’s announcement that the Blood Bank of Delmarva is now supplying Kent County paramedics with whole blood (making BBD a supplier for ever county in Delaware), officials say the need is now more urgent than ever.

To find out how you can donate you can head to DelmarvaBlood.org