The New York Blood Center has issued a blood emergency, as hospitals scramble to fill their blood banks.
In the last three weeks, donations were 2,100 pints short of what is needed at area hospitals, according to the blood center, the main provider of blood products for hospitals in the New York metro area.
The problem stems from a seasonal drop in donations before and after Memorial Day weekend.
This is New York Blood Center’s second blood emergency this year — the other was in January following a holiday season of low donor turnout and inclement winter weather.
Today’s news is particularly troubling as there is generally a spike in traumatic injuries in the summer, blood center said.
“The summer months, often called ‘trauma season,’ bring about significant challenges to an already limited blood supply,” said Dr. Alexander J. Indrikovs, senior director of transfusion medicine at Northwell Health.
“With more hours of daylight and increased outdoor activities during the warmer months, people are more likely to sustain injuries that may require blood transfusions.”
The center said platelets and all blood types are needed, but O- and B- are in high demand. The region has a two-day blood supply of them; the optimal level is five to seven days.
For more information on how to donate, visit nybc.org/donate-blood.