The winter weather has caused more than 300 blood drives to be canceled in 20 states since Jan. 1, the organization said in a statement. That resulted in more than 9,000 donations being uncollected, the Red Cross said. In the Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, which includes Schuylkill County and five other counties, six blood drives were canceled since Jan. 23.
One of those blood drives was in Schuylkill County.
“Due to the safety of the donors and the staff, we had to cancel the drive,” Karen Barton, account manager Schuylkill County blood donor division, said Tuesday about a drive that was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Grace Free Evangelical Church in Cressona.
She said possibly 15 to 20 pints of blood could have been collected. In the Northeast region, she said the organization lost out of the potential of 800 to 900 pints of blood since Jan. 1.
“One pint of blood can help up to three people,” Barton said.
Another blood drive to replace the one in Cressona could be held in the future. A blood drive held Jan. 12 at the Mahanoy Area Junior/Senior High School ended two hours early because of inclement weather forecast.
On Tuesday, people were at the Life Centre Foursquare Church doing their part to give blood. Pastor David Poissant said the use of the church for the blood drive is one of the many ways the church gives back to the community. This is the 10th drive held at the church since 2013.
From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. blood donations were being accepted. Steve Boyer, 67, of Tremont, said he regularly donates blood.
“It’s easy and helps people,” he said.
He’s been donating blood since he was 18 years old.
Robert Cress, 45, of Pottsville, also donated Tuesday. Being a nurse, he knows all too well how important blood is to those who needed it.
“If they don’t have the blood, the people are going to die,” he said.
Donating can save someone’s life, he said.
“It’s life or death if you don’t give blood. Blood is life,” he said.
Some people decide not to donate for different reasons or perhaps are not medically eligible to do so. He urged healthy individuals to give the fit of life.
“If you don’t, who’s going to?” he said.
Barton said donating really is a matter of survival. She said blood has a shelf life. Red blood cells 42 days. Platelets last five days.
“It gives people hope and saves lives. The need is constant,” she said.
“The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide,” the organization said.
“When you need blood due to trauma or injury, you better hope that blood is on hand,” Barton said.
Photo identification is required and potential donors must be at least 16 years old and weight at least 110 pounds. About a pint is collected from eligible and willing donors. The blood is then sent to a laboratory for testing before it is sent to where it is needed.
Last year, a little more than 4,000 pints of blood were collected in Schuylkill County, Barton said.
The following locations will be holding blood drives. For more information about the American Red Cross, call 800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcross.org or www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass. The Red Cross also has a cellphone app.
Ashland
Monday: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Christ United Lutheran Church, 437 Airport Road, (Gordon)
Frackville
Monday: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 48 S. Nice St., Route 61
2/13/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Schuylkill Mall, 830 Schuylkill Mall Blvd.
Mar Lin
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mar Lin Citizen Hose Company, 401 Maple Ave.
Pottsville
Feb. 9: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Salvation Army, 400 Sanderson St.
Feb. 10: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Alvernia University Schuylkill Center, 1544 Route 61 Highway South, Suite 6190
Valley View
Feb. 15: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 1382 W. Main St.
