SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Mild spring weather signals the start of "trauma season" in emergency rooms, leading to a rise in injuries and trauma cases from outdoor activities, according to ImpactLife. Emergency rooms tend to see a rise of gunshot wounds and interpersonal violence during this time.
For ImpactLife, trauma season coincides with a decline in blood inventories. This decrease is partly due to the reduced number of blood drives hosted by schools during this time of year.
Specifically, the supply of type O-negative blood—commonly used in cases of significant trauma—has been particularly low in recent weeks, falling to less than a two-day supply.
According to the American College of Surgeons, hemorrhage is the most common cause of death within the first hour of arrival to a trauma center and more than 80% of deaths in the operating room and nearly 50% of deaths in the first 24 hours after injury are due to severe blood loss. (U.S. Blood Donation Statistics and Public Messaging Guide, America’s Blood Centers.)
ImpactLife is seeking to expand appointment availability in order to accommodate the growing needs of patients.
To thank donors who give blood at this time of year, ImpactLife now offers blood donors the opportunity to donate to a nonprofit, receive a gift card for personal use, or to receive bonus points to use in the blood center’s Donor Rewards Store.
To find an ImpactLife Donor Center location or mobile blood drive, call (800) 747-5401, schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
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