Winter Weather, Illness Keep Donors Away; Blood Supply Dips to Dangerously Low Levels

"There is only a day's supply of blood available for the area's hospital patients," reported Northeastern Pennsylvania Blood Services Chief Executive Officer Donald R. Fipps. "This is a dangerous situation. We are bringing blood in from around the country to help, but people in this area need to come out and give blood now."

A map issued by the Center for Disease Control on influenza across the United States shows Pennsylvania as having widespread flu activity in mid-February. Illness, plus the recent rash of winter storms, has impacted blood donor numbers.

"Most people don't realize how important blood donations are until someone close to them needs blood," Fipps stated. "We are working very hard to bring blood in to have it available for patients. But, we need the residents of this area to realize how critical this is and support our blood drives now."

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will make the following visit in Nesquehoning in March:

Monday, March 28, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Nesquehoning Recreational Center, W. Railroad Street, Nesquehoning.

The American Red Cross is asking everyone who is at least 17 years old, who weighs at least 110 pounds, and who is healthy to please give blood and help build the area's blood supply to a safe level.