The Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive Wednesday, Jan. 21, as the Red Cross experiences a severe blood shortage.
Individuals can donate between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. said American Red Cross of Western New York spokesperson Meg Rossman on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
She said walk-ins are accepted if they can be accommodated but not guaranteed, depending on open available spots and the number of booked appointments.
“Always best, when you can, to make that appointment,” Rossman said.
She added that to thank donors helping to address the need for blood, anybody who gives through Jan. 25 would be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl.
This would include day-of, in-stadium pregame activities access, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations from Feb. 6 to Feb. 9 and a $1,000 gift card for other related expenses, according to a Tuesday news release from the Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Donation eligibility requirements listed on the Red Cross website stated that an individual must be 17 years old or older to donate in most states or 16 with a parent or guardian’s consent and generally weigh at least 110 pounds.
Rossman said the need for blood and requests from hospitals is “exceeding the availability of blood on the shelves right now.” She said this has drawn down the available blood supply by about 35% throughout the last month.
There are a few factors at play, she added, which have contributed to this shortage. She said donations are “being strained by the worst flu season we have seen in about 20 years.” This, Rossman added, has stopped some people from donating, as they may not be feeling well and cannot come in to donate.
In the region, the Red Cross has seen a lot of cold winter weather, which additionally “sidelines some donors from coming in,” she said.
“It’s really a perfect storm,” Rossman continued. “We are coming off the holiday season, where we typically see a seasonal decline in donations.”
She said this is why it is important for individuals to make appointments now, considering that blood has “such a finite shelf life.”
According to the news release, the shortage is “especially serious for platelets and types O, A negative and B negative blood.” It stated that without a climb in donations, patients who rely on donations, like trauma victims, people in childbirth and those with sickle cell disease or cancer, are at risk.
About 400 blood drives were impacted due to winter weather last month, the release stated. This means thousands of donations were not collected.
“The holidays and winter months are typically a challenge to maintaining our blood supply,” Nick Bond, CEO of the American Red Cross Western New York Region, said in the news release. “It’s been especially challenging given the impact of a terrible flu season combined with tough weather conditions that have kept prospective donors away. We hope those who are able will step forward and make an appointment to donate blood.
Individuals are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, by using the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or 1-800-733-2767.
Upcoming opportunities to donate in Otsego and Delaware counties include:
Delhi
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, SUNY Delhi Farrell Student & Community Center, 454 Delhi Drive.
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30 SUNY Delhi Farrell Student & Community Center, 454 Delhi Drive.
Roxbury
1-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, Carriage House at Jay Gould Memorial Church, 53837 state Route 30.
Sidney
1-6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, American Legion Post 183, 22 Union St.
Sidney Center
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, DCMO BOCES, 270 BOCES Drive, off Route 206.
Stamford
1-5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, Stamford Baptist Church, 40 Lake St.
Oneonta
1-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, Foothills, 24 Market St.
Worcester
1-6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, Worcester United Methodist Church, 111 Main St.