STORM WATCH

Wintry mix, sleet and freezing rain to possibly create hazardous travel conditions in The Bronx

NY Blood Center holds emergency drive amid citywide shortage

The director of the NYBC says the holiday season and cold weather contribute to a lack of donors during this time of year, and that while 60% of the population is eligible to donate, only 2 to 3% do.

News 12 Staff

Jan 22, 2024, 10:28 PM

Updated 380 days ago

Share:

January is National Blood Donor Month, and officials with the New York Blood Center are encouraging New Yorkers to donate amid a citywide blood shortage.  
According to organizers with the New York Blood Center, the city is currently in a blood emergency. They say a normal healthy supply is about seven days’ worth, but that dropped to four to five days’ worth during the pandemic. Now they’re at a single day's supply.  
“Being at a one to two day supply with certain blood types, it really means that if… there’s an emergency or some sort of tragedy where there’s a large amount of blood products needed in a short amount of time, we may find ourselves in a challenging position,” said Yadira Navarro, director of the New York Blood Center.  
Navarro says the holiday season and cold weather contribute to a lack of donors during this time of year, and that while 60% of the population is eligible to donate, only 2 to 3% do.