Blood donation an ‘urgent need’

A busy travel season and a series of natural disasters left the Red Cross with a blood shortage in September. With the holidays and even more travel on the horizon, the organization is looking to combat another potential lack of donations. 

According to the Red Cross, September figures for blood inventory were down 25% from August. In the Granite State, 73% of donation appointments are left unfilled on average. There is still an “urgent need” for blood donations, according to Daniel Dowling, regional communications director for the Red Cross.

“We’re distributing blood to wherever it is needed. And we’re just hoping that the numbers continue to improve as we head into into the end of the year here,” said Dowling. “The weather is getting colder, [and it’s] interesting to note that school blood drive made up 25% of Red Cross collections before COVID and we’re still trying to rebound from that. We have seen a drop in participation in company-wide blood drives as well. So it’s a lot of these little things that are kind of coming together that don’t quite get us to where we would like to be. And I think we’re still trying to get the word out and encouraging people to come out and donate and to indicate keep those numbers improving.”

Over the summer, the Red Cross changed its donor eligibility to allow donations regardless of sexual or gender orientation. Even with these new guidelines in place, the blood supply is not being replenished at a sustainable rate. 

“Only 3% of the US population donate what 62% are actually able to do so. So there is, you know, just getting the percentage of a percent or two would make a world of difference to the blood supply,” said Dowling. “As far as the need for blood, you know, we don’t really we take it for granted until we actually need it. And you know, we’re just trying to do our best to get the word out saying they it’s not a particular day and not a particular part of the country or a state, you know, it’s everywhere all the time.”

Upcoming blood drives

— Spagnuolo Hall, Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, Nov. 7, 1 to 6 p.m.

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Peterborough, Nov. 10, noon to 5 p.m.

— Hope Fellowship  Church, New Ipswich, Nov. 20, 9 a. m . to 3 p.m.

— New Ipswich Congregational Church, New Ipswich, Nov. 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

— Greenfield Fire Department, Greenfield, Nov. 28, noon to 5 p.m.

— Union Congregational Church, Peterborough, Dec, 1, noon to 5 p.m.

— Hancock Meetinghouse, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

— Jaffrey Bible Church, Jaffrey, Dec. 20. noon to 5:00 p.m.

— Dublin Community Center, Dublin, Dec. 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p .m.

For an appointment, visit redcrossb lood.org and search for the town or call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).