Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibilitySouth Texas Blood and Tissue Center says they're experiencing blood supply shortfall
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South Texas Blood and Tissue Center says they're experiencing blood supply shortfall


SAN ANTONIO - Our Sinclair San Antonio stations are joining forces with The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for a vital project to our community. There is a need for blood donations in San Antonio, and you can help by taking part in the Sinclair Cares” Roll Up Your Sleeves drive. Click here to set up a simple appointment to donate today. Your efforts will save lives!

Our local hospitals are facing a major shortfall when it comes to blood. The need for blood continues to rise and donations are not meeting demand.

CLICK HERE if you would like to schedule a donation online or call (210) 731-5590.

All the blood on hand at South Texas Blood And Tissue Center will be gone by the end of the day to hospitals in 48 surrounding counties in South Texas. This is a life-and-death situation for possibly hundreds or thousands of people.

Local hospital leaders gathered here today to ring the alarm bell that we are in a secondary health crisis at the tail end of the pandemic.

Recently, the blood bank has seen a 2% rise in donations but a 20% rise and need from local hospitals. Those hospitals are getting to the point where they need to triage blood and they have to be careful and selective on who is going to get blood and when.

They have to prioritize patients for who needs most.

One of those patients, a local mother, was having a miscarriage and if it wasn’t for blood transfusions, she would be dead.

“The moment I began to receive a blood transfusion, I am not exaggerating by saying, I literally felt life coming back into my body," said Melodie Vise. "I could breathe and my blood pressure began to stabilize it was absolutely incredible.”

Every year, hundreds of mothers experience miscarriages in San Antonio and each of them needs blood to survive. San Antonio is one of the busiest transplant cities in the entire country especially for kidney and liver transplants. Those operations require blood. Blood transfusions are the most common procedure or any hospital.

But the shelves are empty at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center. And these empty shelves could be the difference between life and death.

Our local hospitals are being forced to triage the blood they have on hand. Prioritize the supply for patients in the most need.

Local hospitals have seen a 20% rise in demand for blood during the pandemic.

There are not nearly enough people donating.

“I think it has to do with population growth in South Texas. If you look at our surrounding communities like Laredo they have a lot of medical capability but not all the subspecialty capability that’s a lot of what we take care of," said Dr. Donald Jenkins, Trauma Surgeon, University Health.

San Antonio is one of the busiest transplant cities in the entire country especially for kidney and liver transplants.

Those operations require blood. There is no substitute for human blood and without more people donating hospital officials tell me patients will die if they are forced to wait.

CLICK HERE if you would like to schedule a donation online or call (210) 731-5590.