Snow days, flu compound Red Cross blood shortages
The need for blood donors is critical.
Winter weather forced the American Red Cross to cancel 550 blood drives nationwide in January, causing more than 16,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.
While these numbers cannot be broken down to county levels, officials say they confirm the effects of the blood shortage are being felt everywhere.
In addition to snow and ice, bitter cold and widespread flu have contributed to very low turnout at many blood drives
“Blood and platelet donations are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in,” said Clifford Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Blood Services. “Donors are critically needed to restock the shelves for patients in their community as well as areas where donors are unable to give due to inclement weather.”
Kristen Lane of the Central Blood Bank said collections at their 22 brick and mortar, community donor centers — one of which is in Butler and another in Cranberry Township — have also suffered.
Lane said another factor that affects the blood bank are students on holiday break. She said students are typically a large driving force for donations, but this year everything is happening all at once.
“We have seen the perfect storm of conditions to see a decrease in donors,” Lane said. “We have a significant decrease in donors from last year, probably about 30 percent fewer, compared to this same period last year.”
Every day, no matter the weather, the Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations to meet the needs of patients throughout the nation, according to Regina Boothe Bratton, external communications manager for the Greater Allegheny Blood Services Region, which includes Butler County.
Bratton said the region was already struggling before the winter season.“When we entered into the winter months, we already were in a shortfall,” she said. “The weather and flu season have just compounded the problem.”More Red Cross drives have been planned, including one from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Robert W. Smith Center, Slippery Rock.Bratton said donations don't have much of a shelf-life, so the organizations are hoping to form partnerships with more regular donors. Cold blood can last about 40 days, but platelets only last about five days.Bratton said the region also shows a particular need for services.“We have a high level of cancer patients and chronic patients in this area who need regular transfusions,” Bratton said.Bratton said the blood and platelets donations mostly stay local. She said one pint of blood can save the lives of up to three people.“The priority is taking care of home,” she said. “We want people to partner with us to help save their neighbors.”Lane said it will take others to step up too, especially since some of the regular donors have been affected by sickness, or they need to take care of someone who is sick. She said the community donor center makes scheduling easier, but people need to get over the notion that they aren't needed or that they can't make a difference.“Please get out of your comfort zone,” Lane said.She said it could lead to something special.“You are saving peoples' lives,” Lane said. “To be able to say that is just epic.”For more information on how to donate, visit www.redcrossblood.org or www.centralbloodbank.org.
