SHREVEPORT, LA — LifeShare Blood Center is urging blood donors to include giving blood in their summer plans. Blood donations are urgently needed through the summer and, historically, there is a higher demand for blood products in July.

According to a recent Pew Research Center analysis, July 4th and 5th are the two busiest days of the year for U.S. hospital emergency rooms, with nearly 10,000 more patients than any other two-day average. The biggest reason for the spike is due to injuries from fireworks. About one-third of fireworks-related injuries are burns, based on research from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dr. Tim Peterson, Medical Director for LifeShare Blood Center states, “Burn patients use lots of blood products over long periods of time, especially red blood cells and plasma due to the loss of red cells and clotting factors with these types of wounds. Plasma and red blood cells are needed to maintain an adequate oxygen supply by the patient as they recover.” A single donation can impact up to three people since most whole blood donations are separated into individual components: red cells, platelets, and plasma.

Unlike most other life-saving medical treatments, blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled. Red blood cells expire after only 42 days and platelets after only 7 days. “We rely on each donation, each day, to meet the needs of our local patients and hospitals,” says Mandi Johnson, Director of Community Engagement.

United We Give is an annual campaign hosted by LifeShare to anticipate and prepare for the decrease of blood donors during the summer months. This year, United We Give is July 1st-5th and each donor will receive a $10 gift card for lunch and a limited-edition t-shirt. We’re excited to have Raising Canes* again this year as our partner in this campaign.

*Donors in the El Dorado, Arkansas area will receive a $10 eGift Card to a vendor of their choice.