Arkansas Blood institute calls for younger and first-time donors amid ongoing need

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The need for blood donations continues in the natural state.

"Here in Arkansas, we use around 80 thousand units of blood a year," Josh Gwin with the Arkansas Blood Institute said.

Gwin said although donations have been steady during the summer months, there's still a great need for more first-time donors.

In fact, Gwin said the state still has to bring in blood from other parts of the country.

"In order to fully support the state of Arkansas, we would have to be able to fill up War Memorial Stadium 3 times with people all be able to donate blood to support us a year," Gwin said.

Gwin said the average donor is between the ages of 45 and 65 and noted that fewer younger people donate blood.

"Part of that is with COVID and with high schools being shut down for essentially two years, there were two separate classes we didn't get to go in and influence and expose to blood donation," Gwin said.

Gwin said getting younger people engaged to donate blood is crucial for the future of blood supply.

"It's very important that younger people come in and start donating blood," Gwin said. "Because, in a few years, we are going to run into some serious problems, even beyond what we are seeing now."

Gwin said people can safely donate blood every 56 days, up to 6 times a year.

"We say that one blood donation can save up to 3 lives," Gwin said. "The reason we say that is because blood can be turned up into three separate blood products."