HOUSTON - Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center received a an overwhelming response on Thursday, as donors poured into local Neighborhood Donor Centers and mobile locations in order to help replenish the dwindling blood supply following Hurricane Harvey. The Blood Center received more than 1,800 donations at its ten open Greater Houston area donor centers and eight mobile locations on its first day of collections since Saturday.
The Blood Center was unable to collect in the Greater Houston area from Sunday through Wednesday. While there was an adequate supply to meet the needs of local healthcare facilities and patients prior to the storm, it had reached critical levels due to the loss of 4,000 potential donations.
The Blood Center has not yet returned to full collections capacity, meaning its Neighborhood Donor Centers and upcoming mobile drives will be crucial to replenishing that supply. Donations will continue to be needed, especially on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, as hospitals resume normal operations.
For information on when and where you can donate, visit giveblood.org. Due to the high amount of donors presenting, appointments are highly encouraged.
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is the primary supplier of blood components to more than 170 hospitals and health care facilities in a 26-county Texas Gulf Coast region. It is an independent, non-profit blood center that is not affiliated with the American Red Cross.