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Syracuse Red Cross Combatting Blood Shortage Syracuse Red Cross Combatting Blood Shortage

By Isabel Flores

FLORES: The Syracuse Red Cross has been scheduling blood drives all across central New York to combat Syracuse’s blood shortage.
Yesterday’s bloo drive with East Syracuse Free Library brought in 21 units of blood, surpassing the organization’s goal of 15 units.
The Red Cross also partners with the Dewitt Community Church to host blood drives.
Blood Program Leader Laurence Seagal says that donating blood is crucial, just one unit helps three people.

LAURENCE SEGAL: Usually every drive we do here at the church, we get approximately 35 to 40 donors. Every blood drive gets approximately that amount. Some blood drives get about 60 or 70 donors.

FLORES: While Segal is proud of the progress the organization has made, he says there are still issues with blood supply.

SEGAL: As of today, right now, there’s a tremendous demand for all types of blood. There’s an urgent need for all types of blood.

FLORES: While the Red Cross holds blood drives at the church, they also collect blood here, at the Red Cross’s Liverpool location, where donors can come in and donate not only blood, but platelets every day of the week. Even on holidays.

FLORES: Janice Procopio is a Type O-negative blood donor who made a vow to donate after her son was born with a defect that required blood donations to help him. Procopio says that in the time she has been a donor, she has seen a decrease in donor numbers.

JANICE PROCOPIO: I think I’ve seen less. I think people are afraid of the COVID and stuff.

FLORES: The Red Cross has several blood drives scheduled for tomorrow including one at Salt City Market downtown.
In Syracuse, Isabel Flores, NCC News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– The American Red Cross in Syracuse is helping to collect blood as Syracuse experiences a shortage.

On Oct. 24, the organization worked with the East Syracuse Free Library to host a blood drive, and collected 21 units, six units more than their intended goal.

While this does provide a glimmer of hope for the organization, there is still a big issue with blood supply.

Red Cross Blood Program Leader Laurence Segal said that there is still an urgent need for all blood types.

“In the last two and a half years with COVID-19 and flu and all the other respiratory viruses happening, there has been an incredible, incredible demand for blood products,” said Segal. “Unfortunately, right now, the demand for blood is skyrocketing and unfortunately, there just aren’t enough people donating.”

Janice Procopio is a blood donor who donates blood about six times per year.

Procopio says she has donated blood ever since her son was born with a defect that required blood donations to help him.

“My blood is O-negative, which could be used for anybody,” said Procopio.

Procopio said donating is her way of giving back.

Segal said that blood donated by individuals goes to those with cancer, those who have been through a disaster of some kind, or anyone else who needs blood for any health reason.

To learn more about the organization’s efforts or how to get involved in donating, the Red Cross has included information on their website.

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