SPRINGFIELD — After last week’s snowstorm canceled 25 blood drives across the state, the American Red Cross is seeking donors to help resupply its blood reserves.
“It’s a tough time in general, but that storm was really the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said Kelly Isenor, external communications manager of the Massachusetts Red Cross Blood Services Region.
Nationwide, the Red Cross aims to keep a five-day supply of blood on reserve at all times, according to Isenor. In Massachusetts, that means collecting 372 units a day. Each donor gives one unit of blood, equal to just under one pint.
The “bomb cyclone” last week left a projected 681 units of blood uncollected, causing reserves to dip below optimal levels.
“Whenever it gets below, that’s when we put out that notice of urgent need,” Isenor said. “We’re just trying to get out the word before it gets too bad.”
So far this year, over 150 blood drives have been canceled across the country, resulting in over 5,500 blood and platelet donations uncollected, according to a Red Cross press release.
The holiday season is an especially challenging time for the Red Cross to collect blood because severe weather and seasonal illnesses can keep donors from their appointments. The most critical need is for clotting platelets, AB plasma and blood types O negative and B negative.
The Jan. 4 storm canceled blood drives at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, ISO New England in Holyoke, and Ayer High School that would have collected a total of 98 units of blood, according to Isenor.
The next blood drive at UMass Amherst is schedule for Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Cape Cod Lounge inside the Student Union, according to Jena Igel of the campus center events and sales office.
The American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts, located at 150 Brookdale Drive in Springfield, serves over 800,000 people in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, according to its website. Isenor encourages donors to use the free blood donor app, available for both Apple and Google phones, to help schedule appointments, find donation centers, earn rewards and monitor health metrics like blood type, units donated, hemoglobin levels and heart rate each visit.
For more information anyone can reach the Red Cross at 1-800-Red-Cross, or visit their website at RedCrossBlood.org.
Sarah Robertson can be reached at srobertson@gazettenet.com.