Blood Supplies Affected by Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene has left blood supplies in the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia regions in need of help.

The New York Blood Bank, which serves New Jersey as well as the rest of the metro New York area, has issued an appeal for blood donations and the American Red Cross is also putting out a call for assistance.

The blood bank says because it cancelled several blood drives and shut its offices in advance of the hurricane, there is now less than a two-day supply of certain types of blood, including O-negative, often referred to as "universal donor" blood.

The normal inventory level is three-to-five days.

“We anticipated the potential effects of Irene, and delivered extra blood in advance to our 200 partner hospitals,” NYBC Vice President Rob Purvis said in a statement. “Our first priority remains getting them whatever they need for the care of trauma and cancer patients.”

With Labor Day approaching, "We’re between a rock and a hard place,” Purvis added.  “We need the help of our communities to replenish the blood supply.”

One in seven people entering a hospital needs blood, he said. The self life of platelets is only five days, while red blood cells only last for 42 days, so the need for new donations is constant, Purvis said.

Officials with the American Red Cross said the organization already has had to cancel more than 60 blood drives along the East Coast due to Hurricane Irene, resulting in the shortfall of nearly 1,500 units of blood.

In addition, hundreds of area blood and platelet donors have been unable to make their scheduled donation appointments because of storm-related issues. Local blood drive cancellations because of power outages continue to impede Red Cross operations this week. Call 1-800-RED CROSS to register for current blood drives in unaffected areas.

The Red Cross has an urgent and very critical need for eligible platelet donors. Eligible platelet donors are asked to call 1-215-451-4153 and immediately schedule a donation as soon as possible. Platelets are commonly used for patients undergoing cancer treatment, trauma victims and many other hospital patients.

Since platelets have a shelf-life of just five days, it is imperative that there are enough platelets on hand to meet the needs of local hospital patients in need.

Nationwide, around 44,000 blood donations are needed each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and children with blood disorders. Every 2 seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion. These patients and others rely on blood products during their treatment.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood in the Penn-Jersey area, please call 1-800-RED CROSS. Eligible platelet donors should call 1-215-451-4153. For more information visit redcrossblood.org www.redcrossblood.org  or follow the Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region at www.twitter.com/ARCPennjersey.

The Community Blood Council of New Jersey, based at 1410 Parkside Ave. in Ewing Township, is also asking donors to call (609) 883-9750 to make an apointment.