September is on track to be the region’s most challenging month for blood collections this year, with nearly 2,700 fewer donations than needed for local hospitals
NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY — The nor’easter that impacted the East Coast this past weekend resulted in the loss of approximately 1,000 blood donations across New York and New Jersey, as blood drives were cancelled and donors were unable to safely travel to donate. New York Blood Center (NYBC) and New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS) are asking the public to donate blood this week to help replace those lost donations and rebuild the region’s blood supply.
The storm compounded an already difficult month for blood collections. September is on track to be the region’s most challenging month for blood collections this year, with nearly 2,700 fewer donations than needed to meet the needs of local hospitals.
The losses follow a challenging summer for the blood supply, when the region experienced multiple periods of critically low inventory. The approximately 1,000 donations lost over just a few days due to the storm represent blood that hospitals were counting on to care for patients.
“Whenever severe weather hits our region, blood collection can stop almost immediately, but the need for blood at our hospitals does not,” said Jeannie Mascolino, Vice President of Operations at New York Blood Center & New Jersey Blood Services. “We always want our donors to put their safety first during a storm. Now that the weather has passed, we need those who are able to come out this week and help us recover what was lost.”
Because blood has a limited shelf life, hospitals depend on a steady stream of donations to ensure blood is available when patients need it. Blood is needed every day for trauma care, surgeries, cancer treatment, childbirth complications, and other serious medical needs.
NYBC & NJBS are urging all eligible donors to make an appointment this week at a donor center or community blood drive to help replenish the blood supply following the storm.
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and recent updates to FDA guidance mean more people may now be eligible to donate. To make an appointment or view current eligibility guidelines, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org.