SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD & TISSUE CENTER

April is National Donate Life Month and the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is working to explain how signing up to be an organ donor can help so many people around the country.

Father of Robb Elementary survivor attempts to donate blood for first time; encourages others to donate before blood is needed

On the fifth anniversary of the Brothers In Arms program, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center unveiled a rebranding and reunited Mayah Zamora with her donors.

South Texas Blood & Tissue is looking to treat blood donors this Halloween.

San Antonio area Wash Tubs are hosting blood drives this weekend in partnership with the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

In addition to blood donors, the blood center is asking for platelet donors.

With hospitals in South Texas running critically short on blood supply after the July 4 holiday, officials with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center are hoping people will roll up their sleeves at community blood drives this weekend.

The Wash Tub is teaming up with the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center to help alleviate ongoing shortages in the blood supply.

The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center has set up three blood drives in the San Antonio area this week in an effort to stem a current blood shortage.

The demand for blood and platelets is outpacing the number of donations, potentially putting surgeries at risk of being postponed, according to the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

Sickle Cell Anemia affects one out of every 365 Black people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Marrow drives that were scheduled for Black History Month at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center were postponed because of last week’s winter storm. Instead of sulking, the sisters are advocates for the “Be The Match” marrow registry, hoping to increase survival chances for themselves and others. To join the marrow registry in their honor, text K2KLUV to 61474. AdRelated: Gene-editing treatment shows promise for sickle cell disease

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Metro Health has declared a blood emergency in the city, as the recent winter weather has left San Antonio and South Texas in a blood shortage emergency. Health officials said there is not enough blood on hand to treat trauma cases and patients who need emergency surgeries and procedures which require blood. At least 2,000 donations have been lost by donor room closures and the cancellation of blood drives, health officials said. Health officials said all donors will receive a $20 Amazon gift card through Sunday, Feb. 21, as well as donor reward points. Health officials said all donors are asked to keep their appointments or call 210-731-5590 to reschedule and open a time for someone else to give.

The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations to help fulfill an increase in need caused by the pandemic. SAN ANTONIO – The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is urging people to donate blood as it is seeing a “severe” shortage amid an “extremely urgent” demand. Adrienne Mendoza, the vice president of Blood Operations at South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, said the need for blood during the coronavirus pandemic has strained the supply, “putting our community at risk.”About 500 donations are needed a day to keep up with the demand. “The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed a secondary national health emergency – a dramatic blood shortage for patients from coast to coast.”Mendoza said the demand increased by 35% in January. A voucher for a smoothie at Smoothie King will be given to donors on Sundays.

SAN ANTONIO – People who have been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine during its massive, nation-wide rollout can still donate blood and platelets, according to health officials. Beddard said the COVID-19 vaccines are not made from the virus that causes COVID-19. These vaccines cause that response.”She urged people to donate blood or platelets during a time when organizations typically see a dip in the number of donors. Because the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines, the deferral period does not apply in this instance. The U.S. has approved two COVID-19 vaccines, one from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, and the other from Moderna.

San Antonio – The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is struggling to bring in donors as it tries to pull itself out of a blood shortage. The center had 1.78 days worth of blood, as of Monday morning, compared to its goal of a three-day supply. “Really one or two major events - like a big trauma or two traumas - could wipe out our supply of blood. STBTC donations (STBTC)STBTC is looking for donations from all blood types -- especially type O. Donations are by appointment only, and donors can register on the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center website.

SAN ANTONIO The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center announced today that the founder of Morgans Wonderland and a park executive donated plasma on Wednesday to help the San Antonio community combat COVID-19. The center is the only organization in the area collecting convalescent plasma that can be transfused directly to patients with COVID-19. The community blood center has supplied more than 6,000 convalescent plasma doses to patients in area hospitals to date. The average convalescent plasma donation provides enough for three doses, and a donor can give every four days. Limited slots remain open for Morgans Wonderland blood driveThe blood center is taking donations by appointment only at the Donor Pavilion in San Antonio and its donor room in Victoria.

The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is seeking people who have recovered from the coronavirus to donate plasma to help with current patients suffering from the disease. As of 6 p.m. Sunday, 45 units of plasma had been sent to local hospitals with several orders still pending. In June, close to 1,000 units of convalescent plasma has been sent to local hospitals. We were able to give plasma when we had few patients. Now that the amount of patients is so high, there are several patients we havent been able to give plasma at all.The organization is seeking anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 to see if they are eligible to donate.

SAN ANTONIO The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center reported Thursday that a second member of their staff has tested positive for COVID-19. We have received confirmation that a second member of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center donor services staff has tested positive for COVID-19, a statement from the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center read. Related: South Texas Blood & Tissue Center employee tests positive for COVID-19, officials sayThe second team member last worked at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Donor Pavilion on June 19, in the morning, according to the STBTC. Employees who worked alongside the affected employee are being asked to get tested for the virus, the center said. More information on blood donation and the policies the center has instituted in response to COVID-19 is available at SouthTexasBlood.org.

SAN ANTONIO School is officially out for summer and Bee Clean Car Washes has a special offer for all graduating seniors and college graduates. If you donate blood at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, you can get a free COVID-19 antibody testThe car wash company is offering a free wash, valued at $14.99 all this week. Those who want to partake in the deal must download the Bee Clean Car Wash app, use promo code GRAD2020 and then scan the QR code at the kiosk to get the free car wash. These San Antonio schools are offering free lunches all summerThere are currently seven Bee Clean Car Washes all across the city.

SAN ANTONIO – As a way to say “thank you” to blood donors, the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is providing free antibody testing for COVID-19 for all blood donors this summer. The free antibody tests will be available to blood donors beginning Monday, June 8, through August 31. RELATED: Who should get a COVID-19 antibody test? The antibody test isn’t meant for those that are experiencing symptoms of the virus or believe they may be infected. RELATED: What can a COVID-19 antibody test tell us?

South Texas Blood & Tissue Center asks you to keep appointments to donateIf you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241.

SAN ANTONIO – The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is holding a week-long community blood drive in hopes of building up a 15-20 day blood supply amid the coronavirus outbreak. SAQ: Why blood donations are so important during the coronavirus pandemicThe blood drive will be held at the San Antonio Shrine Auditorium, near the intersection of Loop 1604 and Highway 281, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m from March 23 to March 27. Health officials: South Texas blood supply at risk of collapsing due to lack of donationsThe STBTC must collect over 400 units of blood to help patients, health officials have said. STBC has added additional sanitation measures and temperature checks of potential donors and staff as they enter facilities, officials said. The community blood drive is a partnership between STBC, Alzafar Shriners and South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital.

She says if this continues, it could lead to a collapse in the South Texas blood supply. Each day, the STBTC must collect over 400 units of blood to help patients, health officials say. Donating blood in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is safe and in doing so, health officials say it can help prevent a secondary health crisis caused by the depleted blood supply. Health officials say they expect the lack of blood donations to continue as COVID-19 sweeps across the nation; however, the need for blood is still critical. The news conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. on March 14 at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

Coronavirus concerns could spark a blood donation shortage. Here’s why you should keep donating blood and not worryPublished: March 10, 2020, 10:14 pmThe South Texas Blood & Tissue Center said it’s making changes to ensure donors are safe when they visit their donation locations in light of COVID-19 concerns.

SAN ANTONIO – The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is asking for help. The group said it’s issuing an emergency appeal for donations, to boost dangerously low inventories and meet growing patient needs. About 12% of the orders from South Texas hospitals are O-negative, according to a news release from the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center. The blood center is even extending hours in this time of need, starting Thursday. Regardless of the time of year, “The need is always there – once every four minutes, someone in South Texas needs blood," Waltman added.