SAN ANTONIO — There's an extreme shortage of San Antonio's blood supply. Empty shelves show what would lead south Texas to a major crisis this summer.
The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center shared a photo of the lack of supply on social media – to drive home the extreme need for blood donations.
The center says the hospital system is already short on blood – so they're asking people to come forward and help. You could get a Fiesta medal while you donate.
Orders for blood from hospitals increased at a rate of 10 times higher than an increase in donations over the past year.
While the center saw a 2% increase in donations over the past year, orders for blood increased 20%. There were 1,000 fewer blood drives because of the pandemic.
As we head into summer, the center already tends to see a drop in blood donations. But the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center says it's impacting the hospital system by putting a strain on the services they provide.
They held a news conference with leaders from UT Health and Methodist Healthcare System about how the shortage is impacting their hospitals.
You can donate blood – even if you've been vaccinated. And if you've done it recently, you can give again *if* two months have passed.
To sign up for an appointment or to schedule a blood drive, click here.