LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — The American Red Cross is putting out a call for blood donors to boost the supply as donations have reached what they call emergency levels. The organization says it is seeing the lowest number of donors in nearly two decades.
"The fear is always there is no other way to get this product. No one can invent blood. No one can manufacture it," said Sherry Nealon-Shrive, executive director NEPA chapter of the American Red Cross.
Officials with the Red Cross say that between Christmas and New Year's Day alone, the organization fell short 7,000 units.
"When you look at the fact that they are helping save three lives with every donation, that is a lot of blood and a lot of blood products that we are missing," said Nealon-Shrive.
That blood goes to hospitals like Geisinger for cancer patients, surgeries, and other emergencies.
Dr. Gustaaf De Ritter is the system transfusion services director. He says the health system transfuses 25,000 blood products a year, averaging more than 2,000 per month.
"Baseline, we try to make sure that every single order for blood is justifiable, the right product for the right patient at the right time so we don't overuse blood so that when we have an emergency, we have enough on hand to deal with," said Dr. De Ritter.
To help deal with the low blood supply, Geisinger has diversified its blood suppliers to avoid shortfalls.
Dr. De Ritter tells Newswatch 16 that the need for repeat donors of all ages is crucial.
"The need will be there forever, so if you can't get an appointment today or even a week from now, or two weeks from now, that is OK. We will need your blood four weeks from now, eight weeks, 12 weeks. So, go ahead and make that appointment when and where you can," said Dr. De Ritter.
January is also National Blood Donor Month. You can find your nearest blood drive or blood center HERE.