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July 02. 2012 8:19PM
Red Cross, facing shortage, appeals for blood donations
Red Cross officials say blood donations in the Northeast are running about 500 units below expectations, a shortfall blamed on last week's severe storms and the mid-week holiday.
Weekend storms forced the cancellations of several blood drives in the Northeast. And donor centers in Fairfax, Va., and Rockville, Md., temporarily closed because of power failures, the Red Cross said Monday.
Red Cross officials in northern New England are urging potential donors make a donation. Some blood collected in New England could end up making up for the shortage to the south.
“It's kind of like blood without borders,” said Carol Dembeck, a spokesman for the American Red Cross in Burlington, Vt.
The canceled blood drives resulted in shortfalls of 400 potential red blood cell donations and more than 100 blood platelet products so far.
Dembeck said a new law in Vermont this spring should have some impact on donations. It allows youths who are 16 years of age to donate if they have parental permission. New Hampshire and Maine have had similar laws for several years, Dembeck said.
On June 25, the Red Cross Northern New England region launched an appeal for donations. Since then, it has collected 4,450 units toward a goal of 8,300 units.
Officials also said this week's Independence Day holiday has also reduced the number of blood drives.
Coming mid-week, the holiday finds many blood-drive sponsors, especially employers, short-handed and unable to host a blood drive.
In June, the The American Red Cross blood supply reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected. The shortfall has left the Red Cross with half the readily available blood products on hand now than this time last year. All blood types are needed, especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this summer.
“Blood must be available at a moment's notice when seconds count to help save or sustain a life. We have reached an emergency situation and the blood will not be there without the immediate response of volunteer blood donors,” said spokesman Donna M. Morrissey of American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeast Division.
Weekend storms forced the cancellations of several blood drives in the Northeast. And donor centers in Fairfax, Va., and Rockville, Md., temporarily closed because of power failures, the Red Cross said Monday.
Red Cross officials in northern New England are urging potential donors make a donation. Some blood collected in New England could end up making up for the shortage to the south.
“It's kind of like blood without borders,” said Carol Dembeck, a spokesman for the American Red Cross in Burlington, Vt.
The canceled blood drives resulted in shortfalls of 400 potential red blood cell donations and more than 100 blood platelet products so far.
Dembeck said a new law in Vermont this spring should have some impact on donations. It allows youths who are 16 years of age to donate if they have parental permission. New Hampshire and Maine have had similar laws for several years, Dembeck said.
On June 25, the Red Cross Northern New England region launched an appeal for donations. Since then, it has collected 4,450 units toward a goal of 8,300 units.
Officials also said this week's Independence Day holiday has also reduced the number of blood drives.
Coming mid-week, the holiday finds many blood-drive sponsors, especially employers, short-handed and unable to host a blood drive.
In June, the The American Red Cross blood supply reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected. The shortfall has left the Red Cross with half the readily available blood products on hand now than this time last year. All blood types are needed, especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this summer.
“Blood must be available at a moment's notice when seconds count to help save or sustain a life. We have reached an emergency situation and the blood will not be there without the immediate response of volunteer blood donors,” said spokesman Donna M. Morrissey of American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeast Division.
