Urgent: Emergency Blood Shortage

Louisa Duffy of New York Blood Center has notified us that there is a blood shortage throughout New York. According to the NYCB recent winter storms and frigid temperatures have resulted in donations being down due to people not being able to get out to a blood drive or the actual drives having to be canceled.

The widespread flu outbreak has also caused donation number to drop. The blood event cancellations and low donor turnout have meant that hospitals served by the New York Blood Center are having trouble maintaining their blood supply.

"Each winter storm further reduces our region’s blood supply,” said Andrea H. Cerafelli, Senior Executive Director Donor Recruitment and Marketing at New York Blood Center. “With blood levels at critical lows, we are urging everyone who can to take one hour to donate one unit to save one life this weekend."

In the winter it is common for the blood supply to drop off but this year seems to have the supplies lower than normal. Donations are below the 6 to 7 day supply level that is needed to maintain a good supply. O- and B- are currently at a 3 to 4 day level at New York Blood Center. It is not just blood but also platelets that are needed to treat cancer patients. Platelets 5-day shelf life have them in high demand.

Below is a list of locations where you can donate over the next few weeks. Your donation will be helping everyone from newborn babies and their Moms to surgery patients and many others. Donating typically only takes one hour. That hour makes a real difference for someone in need of blood.

Local Drives:

2/3 St. Mary Mother of the Church, 8 AM to 2 PM, Fishkill
2/5 St. Denis Church, 2 PM to 8 PM, Hopewell Junction

2/6 SUNY Orange Middletown, 10 AM to 8 PM, Middletown

2/6 Boy Scout Troop 82, 3 PM to 9 PM, Lagrangeville

2/7-8 Arlington High School (TBA), 8 AM to  2 PM, Lagrangeville

2/12-13  Mount Saint Mary College, 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Newburgh

2/13 Dover High School, 8 AM to 2 PM, Dover Plains

2/22 Goshen Central High School,  7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Goshen

2/26 Our Lady of Lourdes High School, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Poughkeepsie