New York Blood Center declares fifth blood emergency of 2022

New York's supply of blood has — once again — plunged to just one to three days, prompting the New York Blood Center to declare an emergency, saying "youth and first-time donors are critically needed."

This is the nonprofit's second such declaration in the last 75 days — and the fifth this year — as just 4% of the general public donates their blood though 62% can do so, it said on Wednesday.

A one-hour donation can save as many as three people's lives, the center said in August, when it joined with Suffolk County to increase donations after declaring another emergency.

"This isn’t a local problem as blood centers across the nation have been struggling over the last two and a half years," the center said, explaining that since the pandemic these organizations have not been able to draw supplies from other regions. 

Ideally, it should have a five- to seven-day supply, it said, but that has not been the case for 30 months.

That is a sharp break from the pattern that prevailed over the past decade, the center said, when blood emergencies only occurred twice a year, around holidays in July and December. 

Andrea Cefarelli, senior vice president of New York Blood Center, in a statement, said: “We need everyone, from Gen Z to Gen X, to step up. Donating blood is a meaningful volunteer opportunity — we encourage people to bring their families, friends and partners to make it even more fun and impactful.”

Unlike 2019, when 25% of blood donors were high school and college students, the number of blood drives for those individuals has halved, the center said, adding it was trying to rebuild those efforts. 

The center holds blood drives every day, it said, and donors also can go to its 19 area centers. 

Saying it takes "extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19," the center added that it cannot accept donations from anyone who has "a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms."

To make appointments, donors can call 800-933-2566 or visit donate.nybc.org.