Forest Hills Council Member Lynn Schulman (left) joins city officials, hospital leaders and FDNY Chief of EMS Operations Michael Fields in urging the public to donate to the New York Blood Center, which is amid a blood shortage.
Photo courtesy of the New York Blood Center
The New York Blood Center declared a donor emergency on Jan. 11, following a holiday season of low donor turnout and recent inclement winter weather.
The organization has seen a 25% drop in donations over the past few weeks, resulting in 5,000 fewer donations, crippling the inventory that was expected to grow during National Blood Donor Month. There is currently a 1-2-day supply of types O-, O+, and B-, as well as a critical shortage of platelets.
“In the midst of the nationwide blood emergency, and in the wake of recent winter storms that have impacted our region, we are calling on eligible New Yorkers to make an immediate blood or platelet donation,” New York Blood Center Senior VP Andrea Cefarelli said. “After a year of rebounding donations, the recent severe drop in inventory is a stark reminder of the fragility of our nation’s blood supply. This National Donor Month, blood donors are needed more than ever to ensure hospital patients in our community get the lifesaving treatment they need.”
The emergency declaration came just days after Queens Council Member Lynn Schulman, the Chair of the Committee on Health, joined her colleagues in government and hospital leaders to celebrate National Blood Donor Month in an effort to encourage blood donations and aim to end blood shortages in the region.
“In the heart of our city lies the power to save lives. Blood Donation Awareness Month is a way for us to reaffirm our commitment to a cause that transcends barriers — the act of donating blood,” Schulman said. “Each donation symbolizes hope, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of our communities. As we begin 2024, let’s make this a year of true giving to life.”
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