NEW YORK – The New York Blood Center is in need of blood donations as hospitals across the area are running low on the supply and require it to treat trauma patients.
The blood shortage comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic and recent winter weather.
Donors with type O-positive and O-negative blood are particularly needed.
Prior to the pandemic, donors could stop by community blood drives at convenient locations, but nearly all high schools, colleges, offices and other community groups have had to cancel their blood drives due to COVID-19.
ew York’s healthcare system requires 1,500 donations each day to treat patients ranging from trauma victims to newborn babies and their mothers to cancer patients.
“We are getting daily reports of hospitals in need of blood to adequately treat their trauma patients,” said Andrea Cefarelli, senior executive director of New York Blood Center. “New York is in a state of blood emergency and while we are doing everything we can to supply our local hospitals, we need folks to come into our centers and donate blood.”
The center is also taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. People are not eligible to donate if they are experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.
