SHREVEPORT, La. – CHRISTUS Health is calling attention to a nationwide blood shortage during National Blood Donor Month and urging residents to donate, emphasizing the critical role blood plays for cancer patients and others undergoing lifesaving treatments.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed daily across the United States, yet only about 3 percent of eligible donors give blood each year. This shortfall has led to persistent supply challenges for hospitals and treatment centers.
“Many cancer patients depend on donated blood to continue treatment,” said Jessica Barringer, a registered nurse with CHRISTUS Health in Shreveport-Bossier. “When chemotherapy lowers red blood cell counts, transfusions are often essential.”
Blood donations are also vital for patients requiring surgery, trauma care and other medical procedures. Because blood cannot be manufactured, hospitals rely entirely on volunteer donors to meet demand.
To help address the shortage, CHRISTUS Health will host a series of community blood drives in partnership with local donation centers:
- Feb. 5, 2026 – CHRISTUS Cardiac Rehab, 9425 HealthPlex Drive, Suite D, Shreveport (9 a.m.–1 p.m.)
- March 17, 2026 – CHRISTUS Bossier Emergency Hospital, 2531 Viking Drive, Bossier City (11 a.m.–4 p.m.)
- March 19, 2026 – CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center, 1453 E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport (10 a.m.–4 p.m.)
The organization encouraged eligible donors to participate, noting that someone in the U.S. requires blood or platelets every two seconds. Regular donations, CHRISTUS said, are essential to ensuring hospitals can meet the ongoing needs of patients in treatment.