By Heather Holman
Staff Writer

The Indiana Blood Center has been experiencing a critical blood shortage since January 1.

Elise Brown, the Director of Corporate Communication, said, "I don't know the answer to prevent the shortage."

The blood center is responsible for collecting thousands of units of blood for patients across Indiana. People recovering from accidents, illnesses and surgeries rely greatly on the charity of people who donate their blood to the centers.

The reasons for the shortage of blood donations may be due to the cold weather, sicknesses or the shutting down of the blood centers during the holiday season.

"We came back to work on January 3 and we only collected 150 units. We need 500 units a day," Brown said.

The center is not drawing enough blood in relation to the need. The Blood Center has had a lot of deferrals or donors who are unable to give blood.

"Normally we've got more people to donate," Brown said. "We take a back seat to many situations."

Usually the blood center is able to recover its shortage in a week, but they have not been able to do that yet. Brown said, "Once you fall behind, it's hard to catch up."

Every day the center collects blood, tests the blood and sends it out the next morning. By the afternoon, however, they are short again. Brown says that the center needs to have at least three to four days of blood on the shelf.

The Indiana Blood Center has experienced back orders on certain blood types. These back orders aren't endangering any of the hospitals. However, the blood center is just barely meeting the needs.

"It's our job to make hospitals never feel the shortage so that they don't have to cancel things," Brown said. "It's a vicious cycle."

The Purdue community is going to be offering the opportunity for people to donate their blood. The residence halls and the School of Nursing will be having blood drives throughout the month of February. Everyone who participates in any of the drives will receive a free T-shirt.

"We really do appreciate the student donors. We'd probably have more shortages if it weren’t for them. We are very grateful," Brown said.

There are requirements that every donor must meet in order to participate. Donors must be 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. A person must also be in general good health.

Donors will be turned away if they have been ill, been sneezing or even just have a headache, on any type of medication or if an iron count is low. The only exception to this rule is if a person is on medication for a chronic disease, such as blood pressure medicine. Donors cannot give blood if they have had recently gotten a tattoo or body piercing within the year.

Participants must have proof of identification, such as a driver's license. If a person does not have a picture I.D. then they must show two non-picture forms of identification. Non-picture identification can be anything with a person's name on it, such as a social security card or report card.