Although the beautiful blankets of crystal white snow make for pretty pictures, the one being painted at the Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross isn’t so dapper.
Yesterday, the ARC was forced to cancel and re-schedule a number of much-needed blood collection sites across the state, thus depleting levels to just a single-day’s supply.
“Every day, we need to collect about 1,100 units of blood to meet the needs of patients in our 100-county area,” said Marianne Spampinato, director of public relations with the Greater Alleghenies Region. “Yesterday, we lost approximately 900 potential units. We managed to collect some units, but not nearly enough that will be needed for the days ahead.”
According to Spampinato, hospitals yesterday were “fairly well stocked.” She said the ARC limited blood deliveries to absolute necessities only.
“So right now, we’re at about a one-day supply,” she said. “But on Wednesday, after we make our deliveries today, we’re going to drop even more.”
To increase the collection, Spampinato said drives will be working hard over the next couple days, both regularly scheduled events and some alternate sites that will be set up throughout the region.
“We’re asking that people come out and give some blood,” said Spampinato. “Presently, we need all blood types.”
Spampinato noted numerous blood drives in the Blair County region over the next week. These include:
Thursday
•Penn State Altoona, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
•Claysburg-Kimmel High School, noon to 6 p.m.
•Masonic Lodge, Hollidaysburg, noon to 6 p.m.
Friday
•Logan Valley Mall, Altoona, noon to 6 p.m.
February 25
•VA Medical Center, Altoona, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
February 26
•Bellwood Senior Center, Bellwood, noon to 6 p.m.
•St. Joseph Catholic Church, Williamsburg, noon to 6 p.m.
Even though the American Red Cross is the most recognized blood supplier with a national system to ship blood and blood products to different parts of the country. Red Cross officials are urging all eligible donors to give blood to help alleviate the short blood supply.
“The Red Cross has a national system in place to ship blood wherever it is needed in the country, but several regions in the United States are covered in blankets of snow making it harder to collect much needed blood,” said Tom Angle, chief executive officer of the Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross Blood Services.
“All but two of our blood drives were canceled (yesterday) due to inaccessibility of some blood drive sites, and more have been canceled (today),” he said. “We are urging all eligible donors to give blood as soon as possible because hospital patients are depending on blood being readily available.”
Existing apheresis platelet donors are encouraged to keep and schedule appointments at the Beaver, Greensburg and Johnstown locations. Platelets, which only have a shelf life of 5-days, are in extremely short supply. New donors are needed to support growing demands for these very special blood cells.
To donate blood, people must be at least 17 years of age; weigh at least 105 pounds; and be in generally good health.
For more information on eligibility requirements or blood donation, contact 1-800-542-5663, or log onto www.redcrosslife.org.
