Red Cross experiencing emergency blood shortage

The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.

Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.

“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges may lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”

Blood donations made within the Western New York region help supply all our local hospitals and the patients they serve. For a Horseheads, NY resident, Dr. Kristina Workman, blood donations saved her life after what should have been the joyous birth of her second daughter, Eva, turned into complications that nearly cost Kristina her life. It took 33 units of blood to save Kristina’s life and ensure that she would be there to raise her daughters with her husband, Jason Harris.

“One thing that really strikes me about blood donation is that you think about saving one person or helping one person to be healthier, but really, I would have been gone,” Kristina said. “I’m very glad that I’m here. I would have been gone and everybody else would have been left with a hole and grief. I don’t know what life would have been like for my husband and my daughters.”

Kristina encourages donors to make and keep appointments in the days and weeks to come to help alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical care for patients in need.

“It is just not about the life that you are saving, it is about all of the other people that care about that person, and I hope that is a strong motivation for people to donate. It is touching a lot of lives. Every single donation has that power.”

To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit http://RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit http://RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
•January 15, noon to 5 p.m., First Bible Baptist Church, 990 Manitou Road, Hilton;
•January 16, 1 to 6 p.m., Riga Town Hall, 6460 Buffalo Road, Churchville;
•January 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Unity Hospital, 1555 Long Pond Road, Rochester;
•January 19, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., BOCES 2 Administration Building, 3599 Big Ridge Road, Spencerport;
•January 23, 1 to 6 p.m., Brockport Fireman’s Exempt Club, 248 West Avenue, Brockport;
•January 24, 1 to 6 p.m., Chili Community Center, 3237 Chili Avenue, Rochester;
•January 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Leo’s Church, 110 Old Hojack Lane, Hilton;
•January 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Westside Family YMCA, 920 Elmgrove Road, Rochester;
•January 31, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., Spencerport Fire District, 175 Lyell Avenue, Spencerport.
Provided information