Winter Weather Leads to Blood Donation Decline in Woodbury

Near whiteout conditions on several occasions this winter, roads that would be better suited for skates than tires and storms that have produced multiple sizable snowfalls since December have taken a toll on blood drives in Woodbury and surrounding areas over the past four months.

At Memorial Blood Center off Radio Drive in Woodbury, the need for blood has reached a critical juncture.

"This winter's weather has had a pretty significant impact on our blood drives and the number of donors who are able to come in and donate," said Wendy Capetz, director of marketing and development for Memorial Blood Centers. "We've even had organizations cancel blood drives because of storms."

Those cancellations have a considerable impact on Memorial Blood Center's supply.

"We need to collect between 150 and 200 units of blood everyday, and we have a demand of 2,000 units a week to meet our hospital needs," Capetz said. "With the cancellations, that means we might not be able to supply all the blood that's needed if there's a major need at one of our hospitals."

Capetz said that November through January are usually tough months in terms of soliciting blood donations, due to donors not wanting to venture out onto slick Minnesota roads and make it to the center or local blood drives to donate. By this point in the winter, Capetz said Memorial Blood Centers is usually seeing an increase in the number of donations, but the late February snowfall has lessened those numbers.

"It's been a cumulative effect, and really every big storm that has impacted driving has impacted us," she said.

The American Red Cross hosts several blood drives in Woodbury throughout the year at multiple locations, such as a recent drive at l and an upcoming drive at Crossroads Church later this month. Red Cross blood donations have also decreased due to harsh winter weather.

Sue Gonsior, communications program manager at the Minnesota chapter of the American Red Cross, said the need for blood is critical nationwide, not just in Minnesota. The massive winter storm that pounded much of the U.S. in early February increased the number of canceled blood and platelet donations through the American Red Cross to nearly 23,000 since Jan. 1, according to a press release from the Red Cross.

The situation continues to stress the Red Cross national blood supply for more than 3,000 hospitals across the country.

"The need for blood is constant—patients can't take a snow day," Geoff Kaufmann, CEO of the North Central Blood Services Region, which based in St. Paul, said in the release. "We want our donors to stay safe when severe weather strikes. But if it is safe to travel, it's important to schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment to help replenish the blood supply."

Gonsior said in February, the American Red Cross issued an appeal to its members and media partners in an attempt to replenish the blood supply nationwide.

"Severe weather did have an effect on the national blood supply," she said. "It was amazing to have to do a national appeal for blood."

Gonsior said the last time the Red Cross had to issue a national appeal was about 10 years ago.

Gonsior added that all types of blood are needed, but O Negative, A Negative and B Negative donors are currently needed the most because people with those blood types are universal donors, meaning patients with any blood type can accept those three blood types.

Gonsior said people can donate whole blood once every 56 days, double red cells once every 112 days, platelets up to 24 times a year and plasma up to 28 times a year.

The Numbers

Gonsior said soliciting blood donations is sometimes tough, even though 38 percent of the American population fits the parameters to give blood.

"Out of the 38 percent that's eligible to donate, only about 5 to 7 percent actually do," she said. "It's staggering."

She added: "Nearly five million people need a blood transfusion every year. If you break that down, it means that each day about 38,000 pints of blood are needed for people in the U.S."

Gonsior said each blood donation can help save as many as three lives, and donated blood is used by doctors to treat trauma victims, mothers who have given birth to premature babies, patients who need blood transfusions due to various ailments and transplant recipients.

"There's a lot of need," she said.

Local Blood Drive

Crossroads Church is helping address some of that need by hosting an upcoming blood drive.

Chris Flack, an administrative assistant at the church, said Crossroads has been hosting the drive for years, and she had donated blood multiple times during the drive.

"It's a good feeling to know that you're helping somebody out," she said.

Crossroads' blood drive will be held 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 26. Those who would like to schedule an appointment to donate blood at the church can call 651-294-7700 and ask for Pam Syverson or Diane Steiner.

People who would like to donate at Memorial Blood Centers or set up a blood drive can call "888-GIVEBLD" or visit Memorial's website.

Those interested in donating blood to the Red Cross or setting up a Red Cross blood drive can call "1-800-REDCROSS" or visit www.redcross.org.