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Eclipse 2024: We Are Blood urging donations
The total solar eclipse in central Texas is less than two weeks away. Many cities and counties have already issued disaster declarations due to an expected influx of visitors and traffic on the roads. Now, We Are Blood is urging people to donate ahead of this rare event.
AUSTIN, Texas - Ahead of the April 8 total solar eclipse, We Are Blood (WrB) is asking for help.
"We need to be collecting extra donations and overstocking our hospitals more than what they're used to carrying to ensure that if higher incidences occur, they're prepared. And if travel is impacted, we're already well ahead of time with the donations that they need," said Nick Canedo, vice president of community engagement at We Are Blood.
We Are Blood is the sole provider of blood for 50 hospitals and medical facilities across Central Texas.
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Solar eclipse 2024: High traffic expected
April's total solar eclipse is expected to bring masses to the Austin area. TxDOT says they are preparing for high traffic leading up to, during and after the event.
During the solar eclipse, at least 17 public events are being hosted across WrB’s service area.
So far, Canedo said eight hospitals have requested more blood, resulting in a current need of roughly 200 additional donations.
"A lot of the visitors expected, and the public events being hosted, are in the Hill Country area, and some of these hospitals might actually also be accustomed to less volume of patients and less blood transfusion needs overall," said Canedo. "So it might be smaller hospitals that are accustomed to carrying fewer blood donations normally that are asking for more help because they're further out and the ones who are expecting all of these visitors and events."
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WrB also partners with ATCEMS and WCEMS so that certain vehicles can carry whole blood units to allow for blood transfusions in the field if necessary.
While any donation helps, the largest need right now is for Type O blood and platelets.
We Are Blood has four donation centers in the Austin area. For a list of locations or to make an appointment, click here.