Budget cuts and cold weather have led to a sharp drop in blood donations this winter, leaving Boston-area hospitals worried about keeping the blood supplies they need to serve their patients.
According to the Red Cross, which supplies most blood banks and hospitals, parts of America have less than a one-day supply of some of the most frequently needed blood types.
Massachusetts General Hospital had 400 fewer donations this January than in 2002, according to Kim Cronin, a representative from its Blood Donor Center. She said the economy has more of a lasting effect on these numbers than the frigid winter conditions, however.
‘Weather is short term,’ she said. ‘It affects things for one day until people shovel their way out of it. Come on, we live in New England.’
Budget cuts have affected everyone statewide and are ongoing, Cronin said.
‘Because of the poor economy our blood supply has been declining since October,’ she said. ‘Companies with which we used to do bloodmobiles are no longer in business or have cut many workers from their staff.’
According to Leslie Richardson-Weber, lab manager at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Blood Bank, only five percent of the population will give blood once in their lives.
‘The supply is of concern, but it’s kind of out of our hands,’ she said. ‘It’s up to the general public.’
Mass General has been to Boston University several times for drives when it was not on the schedule, Cronin said. She admitted the hospital is willing to go out of its way because the student population is a good source for blood donations.
Some students said they were willing to donating blood.
‘I do it once or twice a year,’ said Kate Davidson, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore. ‘I am deathly scared of needles, so I figure donating will get me over it.’
Nicholas Mindicino, a CAS sophomore, agreed that if there is a want of blood donations in the area, he should feel obligated to donate.
‘I give about twice a year,’ he said. ‘I can spare it, and if someone else needs it, then why not?’
Things are looking up for the Red Cross, according to its New England spokesperson, Stephanie Millian. Despite the short supply of blood in mid January, she said, its media appeal helped the organization get some more donors in the door, she said.
‘The media appeal got us to a two-day supply from less than a one-day supply,’ Millian said. ‘We are hoping that this will increase in the upcoming weeks to a three-day supply, which is where we want to be.’
Though donations are improving, a five-day supply is the ideal, said Red Cross representatives.
Boston University’s Red Cross Volunteer group will hold its next blood drive today, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the basement of the George Sherman Union.