BETHLEHEM, Pa. — An emergency blood shortage is underway across the country, and Lehigh Valley blood banks are asking donors, both new and returning, to roll up a sleeve and give to bolster the local supply.
"We're currently about 20[,000] to 25,000 donations below the level we would like to be at this time of the year,” said Peter Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter encompassing the Lehigh Valley.
Brown said the blood shortage is being felt across the country as heat waves and hurricanes deter people from donating.
He said this time of year typically is slow, but unforeseen weather events have created an even deeper dip in donations.
“What's happened is, during July, partly attributable to the massive heat waves that impacted so much of the country, and then hurricane Beryl, and most recently, Hurricane Debbie, we've seen a drop off,” he said.
“We had to cancel over 100 drives across the country, and summertime is typically more challenging for donors because of family vacations.”
Local banks feel it, too
The need for blood products does not take a break, Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s Chief Operating Officer Rami Nemeh said.
Nemeh's team also is seeing a decrease in supply.
"We need an average of approximately 350 blood donors every single day."Rami Nemeh, Chief Operating Officer, Miller-Keystone Blood Center
"For Miller-Keystone, we need an average of approximately 350 blood donors every single day,” Nemeh said.
"But they are not hitting that number despite having various locations and on-site drives.
“We do have seven collection sites, we do have few satellites throughout our service area, and we do more than 1000 blood drives every year.”
Both Miller-Keystone and the Red Cross are urging people to donate to avoid a critical situation. Both collection agencies filter blood back into the local community.
Who gets the blood
"So blood is helping trauma patients, it’s helping mainly cancer patients, regardless if you give blood or if you give platelets, regardless of what the blood type is, those units are saving lives every single day,” Nemeh said.
“Twenty-five percent of the blood that we collect actually goes to support cancer patients."
Brown said he is optimistic for the school year as drives held at high schools, colleges and universities make up 20% to 40% of all blood collected.
However, he said hybrid work environments present a new challenge in collecting donations in the workplace.
"Platelet donations are really important because they can help support people who are getting chemotherapy, who are also needing to get blood transfusions,” Brown said.
“Another usage that many people don't think about is individuals who have sickle cell disease, they require regular, recurring blood transfusions in order to keep their blood at a healthy level.”
How to give
Those looking to donate in the Lehigh Valley can visit the American Red Cross or Miller Keystone Blood Center to give blood. Both offer incentives to those who give.
PBS 39 is partnering with the American Red Cross from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Univest Public Media Center on the SteelStacks Campus in Southside Bethlehem.
All donors will get a $20 Amazon gift card and be entered to win a family four-pack to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
