LAFAYETTE, LA – Louisiana continues to rebuild after the effects of Hurricane Delta and previous storms. Hurricane Delta has forced many blood drive cancellations as well as donation center closures resulting in the loss of over 400 anticipated donations. This number is expected to climb with future cancelled blood drives in areas hard hit by Hurricane Delta. Vitalant is strongly encouraging donors to donate blood as soon as they are able to.

Please donate blood over the coming days to rebuild our local blood supply from the losses experienced from Hurricane Delta. Blood donations are needed regularly during and after the effects of a hurricane to help treat trauma victims, cancer patients, new born babies, and more.

“With most of South Louisiana being affected by Hurricane Delta, Vitalant’s ability to collect life-saving blood donations has been impacted,” said Amanda Landers, Regional Director with Vitalant. “Blood donations are vital to the success of patient recoveries in our communities and can only come from generous blood donors. Please donate blood as soon as it is safe for you to do to replenish the blood supply.”

Donations of all blood types are needed right now, especially O-negative. In an emergency, doctors reach for O-negative first when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type. As the universal blood type, O-negative can be transfused to all patients.

Our donation centers have adjusted operating hours:

Sunday:
Lafayette – 7-2
Baton Rouge – 7-2
Morgan City - CLOSED

Lafayette – 1503 Bertrand Drive
Baton Rouge – 8234 One Calais (Service Road at I-10 & Essen)
Morgan City – 1234 David Dr. #102

Please schedule your appointment to donate as soon as conditions are safe enough for you to travel at Vitalant.org or call 1-877-25-VITAL (258-4825).

In order to effectively uphold social distancing standards, appointments are strongly encouraged. Face coverings are required for all donors and staff. Please come to your donation with a face covering that covers both your nose and mouth.

All successful blood donations will be tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. For more information, please visit Vitalant.org/antibodytest. If you have recovered from COVID-19, are at least 28 days symptom free and are interested in donating convalescent plasma, please visit Vitalant.org/covidfree.

As one of the nation’s foremost blood providers and transfusion medicine research centers, Vitalant is simultaneously leading the effort to restore the local blood supply and ensure that patients and hospitals in our communities have stable blood inventories. The U.S. Surgeon General and Federal Emergency Management Agency have designated blood donation as an essential function, encouraging healthy and eligible donors to continue to donate even amidst COVID-19 response measures. Vitalant continues to intensify precautionary measures to ensure the safety of donors, patients and staff.