Blood bank: Blood units critically low in West Tennessee
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NORTH JACKSON — A local blood bank said they are experiencing critical shortages that could put West Tennessee patients in danger. Lifeline Blood Services announced Sunday it was short of O-negative and B-negative blood types. One West Tennessean said if she had not received a blood transfusion, she would not be alive. “They told my fiance he had the option to sign for a blood donation or I would die,” Brittney Arnold said. Arnold had just given birth to her daughter, Aubree, when she felt like something was not right. “I told the doctor that I felt like something was coming out, and I looked down and blood was pouring everywhere,” Arnold said. “And it just really happened quick, and I went unconscious.” Arnold said she then received a blood transfusion. Doctors told her it saved her life. “At the time, I thought I would never see my daughter,” she said. “I had her for 10 minutes and she was gone, and I figured that’d be the last time I’d ever see her and she would have no idea who I was.” That scary moment made Arnold realize she would always do her part to help others. “I didn’t take it as serious. I thought, you give blood, there you go. I didn’t realize that one day I would need it and it would save my life,” Arnold said. Lifeline Blood Services CEO Joe Schifano said they are asking anyone with either of those blood types to donate. “The practical issue is there is less than one day’s supply of O-negative, B-negative right now in West Tennessee hospitals,” Schifano said. He said December is always a tough month for donations, but last month was exceptionally dry. “The December projections, even taking into account that December is a little slower, were 300 units lower than we expected to get,” Schifano said. “You open up your eyes and realize it’s more than just giving blood to some random person — that’s somebody’s child, somebody’s family,” Arnold said. Lifeline Blood Services will be open all week and will be hosting mobile blood drives. To see where you can donate, go to the “Seen on 7” section here on our website.
