supplies

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A drop in blood supplies, typical of the summer season, threatens to increase with the approaching passage of storm Ernesto through the island, making it urgent for the community to return to donate, said the manager of Laboratory, Pathology and Blood Bank of the Puerto Rico Medical Services Administration (ASEM), Cesar Torres Castro.

“I can tell you that we always emphasize donations of type O blood. O- is the universal donor and O+ is one of the most common, and we also need platelets. We will always need platelets, which is one of the components that doctors use to prevent bleeding…” explained Torres Castro.

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As a result of the passage of storm Ernesto, the Puerto Rico Blood Bank of Medical Centerin Río Piedras, did not operate today, Wednesday. Tomorrow, Thursday, however, it will resume operations to receive all possible donors. “Now, more than ever, it is essential that the community goes out and donates blood because blood is crucial to saving lives,” said Torres Castro.

The official explained that the drop in blood supplies is typical between the months of June and September. In addition to closing on Wednesday, they had to cancel a bloodletting, events that help them reach more and new donors.

He said the number of daily donations that allows him to maintain a stable inventory is 40. On the other hand, the critical figure is 25 donors per day. “There are always those who cannot donate because they have low hemoglobin or because they do not reach the minimum weight. I can tell you that about 10% of donors are rejected at the first appointment for one of these reasons or another,” he explained, pointing out that in “extreme” cases they can buy blood from the Red Cross or the Banco de Servicios Mutuos.

Currently, he said, the available supplies are sufficient to meet the demand for this week, but he stressed the need to collect more blood in case of any unforeseen event. “When there is a scheduled surgical procedure, you have time to prepare and look for donors. Here, the emergency has arrived and we have to give them what we have in the supplies”he explained.

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The Medical Center’s Blood Bank provides blood and blood components to the Adult University Hospital, Pediatric Hospital, Industrial Hospital, Trauma Hospital, and San Juan Municipal Hospital.

The basic requirements to donate are to be at least 18 years old (minors under 16 and 17 years old can donate with their parents’ permission), weigh more than 110 pounds (130 pounds for minors under 16 and 17 years old) and be in good health. For questions about requirements, you can call (787) 777-3844 or write to citasbancosangre@asem.pr.gov.

1 / 56 | In pictures: The effects of Tropical Storm Ernesto in Puerto Rico. Municipal officials in Canóvanas tend to fallen vegetation caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto. – Ramon “Tonito” Zayas