EAST TEXAS (KYTX) - Blood centers across East Texas need you to roll up your sleeves and donate. As the weather gets hotter and more people leave town for summer vacations, less blood gets donated.
The people at Carter BloodCare say the summers are an uphill battle for them. Not only do fewer people donate, but the need for blood actually goes up because accidents increase. That's why they're offering plenty of incentives this summer to keep donors coming in.
"Every 90 seconds, someone needs blood in the Carter BloodCare coverage area. That's how important it is."
Bob Mauldin with Carter BloodCare says 30% of their blood supply comes from high school students, and when they're not in school, students have plenty of activities going on aside from donating blood.
17-year-old donor Erin Clemons is an exception.
"I've donated at my school twice and twice here." she said.
Mauldin says they need more people like her. The need for blood goes up during the summer because more people choose to have surgeries then. Also, more people are involved in car and boating accidents on summer vacations. That's why they're getting creative to keep donors coming back this summer.
"For the rest of this month, if you come out and give blood, you'll get a buy one, get one free- you get a ticket for the Texas Rangers and then you get one free too."
If you can't make it out in June, be on the lookout for mobile blood centers at Whataburger locations this summer.
"When you donate at one of those drives, you'll get a free Whataburger."
Mauldin says they've also partnered with Blue Bell ice cream and local car dealerships for more prizes.
"If you feel good and think you can do it, come on in and try to do it because you're going to be saving up to three lives every time you roll up your sleeve and donate blood." said Mauldin.
Mauldin says they really need people who are "O negative" because it's compatible with all other blood types, but of course, they encourage anyone to donate.
Carter BloodCare needs 1,100 donors a day to meet hospital demands. Mauldin says June has been a slower month for them, but the number of people coming in changes every day and they're not seeing any less people than they did last summer.
