Schumer unveils plan to promote blood donations

NORWICH – The blood supply in central New York has reached a dangerously low level, with many areas reporting nearly 15 percent less blood has been than what is needed.

In reaction to this dangerous figure, State Senator Charles Schumer announced last week a plan to promote blood donations across the state to avert a potential crisis situation.

“Across upstate New York, hospitals are encountering a staggering shortage of available blood, which threatens patient safety and the public health,” said Schumer. “It’s crucial that the federal government, local businesses and New York residents rally together to buoy the state’s blood supply so that there is a steady, safe supply available for residents across the state.”

Schumer has called upon the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, to immediately allocate $10 million for a widespread blood donation promotion campaign. Schumer also called on the federal government and businesses to reward employees who donate blood by granting them comp time.

According to the New York-Pennsylvania Region American Red Cross office, which serves Chenango County, blood supplies at the facility are at a critical level, which the agency describes as an urgent situation that calls for the immediacy of more donors. According to information gathered by Schumer’s office, blood centers across upstate New York right now have less than a two day supply of O positive and O negative blood, the universal and most often needed blood types.

Ordinarily, blood donations drop an average of 10 to 15 percent during the summer months, due to an increased amount of summer travel and schools being out of session, but this year heat and other factors have had a negative impact on the already low supply.

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In addition to promoting blood and tissue donations, Schumer hopes to encourage Secretary Leavitt to expand programs for donations in the workplace, such as Workplace Partnership for Life, which educates employees on the importance of blood donations. Schumer also issued a personal appeal to all eligible upstate New Yorkers to take time out to give blood.

Statistics show that only 5 percent of those eligible to give blood will do so in any given year. The American Red Cross guidelines say anyone 17 years of age or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health may be eligible to donate blood. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for a donation at an upcoming blood drive, call 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit www.donatebloodnow.org.

UPCOMING DRIVES

Chenango County Blood Drives

• Saturday, Sept. 15

American Legion Post 376

17 South Washington Street, Oxford.

7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Monday, Sept. 17

Greene High School

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South Canal Street, Greene.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Wednesday, Sept. 19