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Lull in blood donations causes emergency shortage in supply

Sean Dolan, 62, of Center Township, rests after donating blood at Vitalant Blood Donation in Summit Township in 2023. Dolan, a universal donor, has given blood every eight weeks for 44 years. Butler Eagle File Photo

During the week of July 4, Vitalant’s national blood supply hit an 18-month low, causing an emergency shortage of donated blood across the nation, but also in Western Pennsylvania. The agency is offering incentives throughout August to people who donate blood to help restock its blood supply.

Maya Santana, communications manager for Vitalant’s northeastern division, said the agency typically sees a drop in donations in the summer, because 10% of its supply comes from college and high school blood drives. However, donations in general have fallen since 2020, when many workplaces introduced work-from-home policies which decreased the number of donations from workplace drives.

Santana said while Vitalant encourages people to donate by emphasizing that each donation can help three patients, it also partners with organizations like the Pittsburgh Pirates to offer rewards to donors. Everyone who donates blood with Vitalant from now until Aug. 29 will receive a $10 gift card through Donor Rewards, and will be entered into a $10,000 giveaway of a prepaid gift card of the winner’s choice, according to a news release from Vitalant.

“Especially post-pandemic we have had a tough time retaining donors; we’re always trying to think of new ways to recruit,” Santana said. “We are going to need this blood to treat people in UPMC and Allegheny General Hospital.”

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