SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) –The American Red Cross is dealing with the biggest blood scarcity it has seen in more than a decade, raising serious concerns about the safety of patient care. Doctors have been forced to make difficult choices on who will need to wait until more supplies are available and who will undergo blood transfusions as a result of this crisis. Donations of blood and platelets are essential to halting further delays in critical medical treatments.
“There has been an urgent, critical and emergency need for blood for about the last two years in Syracuse,” said Laurence Segal, a blood program coordinator and a volunteer with the American Red Cross in Central New York. “The demand for blood is skyrocketing while the donations are plummeting, and it’s deeply concerning.”
The Red Cross has seen a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood since pre-pandemic days and continues to confront issues like blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations.
“The problem is 38% of people in the United States are eligible to donate blood,” Segal said.” But less than 3% of the eligible population actually donates every year.”
Segal has always counted on the Red Cross and the Dewitt Community Church in Dewitt for its blood drives.
“There’s an incredible demand right now, for blood,” Segal said. “There has been an urgent, critical and emergency need for blood for about the last two years in Syracuse. The demand for blood is skyrocketing while the donations are plummeting, and it’s deeply concerning.”
“We’re grateful to the Dewitt Community Church for allowing us to host blood drives here to help out people who are sick in our community.” Segal continued.
According to Segal, there has been more than 100 blood donations at the church recently.
“ I believe, as of this morning, these blood drives have made a difference. There were 3,558 blood donors at the church, helping about 10,600 patients in our community who need blood. ” Segal said.
There are other local places where people can go to donate blood.
“We held a blood drive at the Syracuse University Campus,” Segal said. “There are other locations, such as the Northeast Medical Center, but Duke Community Church is one of the leading blood donation locations in Syracuse.”
Blood donation shortages are at emergency levels. This requires everyone to donate as much possible. And that’s the reason Red Cross is asking for the community’s help.
And there is a necessary step before the blood donating is to check the healthy situation of self-body. The Blood Application which can be downloaded from everyone’s phone is just for this.
“This blood app can show your blood type, if you’re eligible to donate and how to make an appointment,” Segal said. “It has your donor card on there and a lot of information, like your health history, every time you donate blood, your temperature the last time you gave blood, your pulse, your hemoglobin level, your blood pressure. “
Blood donating engages social mobility and increases connections between strange to each other.
“I always do the whole blood. I tried the platelets a while ago, and I didn’t like the taste in my mouth. I had to stop in the middle of it. And it so it doesn’t work for me.” said Marge Canino, 75, and an O-positive long time blood donator.
“It’s like a sense of pride,” she said. “ Something I can do. That’s an easy thing to do. “
Another donor, James Black said donating today would help everybody, not just the local community.
“Everybody’s involved,” Black said. “I believe in the Red Cross. I believe in the Red Cross and what it stands for, what it doesit’s need.”
In addition to whole blood, people can also donate platelets at the nearby Red Cross. Dianne Hewitt, a platelets donator said it’s always been an enjoyable experience for her to come and donate platelets.
“I’m hopeful that the platelets will be able to go to a local hospital, or that they will help cancer patients or people who have suffered trauma,” Hewitt said. “These platelets are good and healthy and strong and they’ll do their job.”
If you have never donated blood or platelets now is the perfect time to do so. A blood donation takes just 5-10 minutes but can bring hope and life to others for decades. It’s easy to donate at your nearest Red Cross, such as the Liverpool Red Cross. Or call 1800 REDCROSS for the easiest way to make an appointment. You can find more information about donating on Blood from Red Cross. com and details of the blood program on Laurence Segal’s Facebook page.
