The Philly region's blood supply dropped sharply at the holidays; here's how to donate

Blood Shortage Hits Philly Region Hard This Holiday Season, Donations Needed

A blood shortage emergency has been declared in New Jersey, putting the Philadelphia region at risk. According to officials, a combination of factors including the winter holidays, inclement weather, and an early flu season have led to a 40% decline in donations.

New Jersey Blood Services reports that it now has less than a two-day supply available for its 200 hospitals served. The blood supply is expected to last only a short time, leaving healthcare providers with limited options when patients require transfusions.

Donations typically decrease during the holidays, but this year's drop has been even more significant. According to Alana Mauger, spokesperson for American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania, the situation is "on the cusp of a shortage" and the organization is trying not to go over it.

The reasons behind the decline in donations are varied, with some people opting out due to lack of awareness or previous negative experiences. However, experts emphasize that blood donations are essential for trauma care, surgeries, cancer treatment, and chronic conditions.

There are specific guidelines for donating blood, including a minimum age of 16 and a weight requirement of at least 116 pounds. Donors can typically give blood every 56 days, up to six times a year. Whole blood donations, used for trauma patients, can be refrigerated for longer periods than platelet donations, which are only stored for five days.

To address the shortage, New Jersey officials encourage people to visit walk-in blood collection centers and consider becoming regular donors. Interested individuals can find the nearest blood drive by visiting the Red Cross website and entering their ZIP code. The Red Cross Blood Donor App also notifies donors when – and where – their donations are used.

man this is super concerning a 40% decline in donations is huge, especially with the holidays and flu season already hitting hard... i feel like we're gonna see some people get stuck without the blood they need for surgeries and whatnot, it's just not fair and yeah, the guidelines for donating are pretty specific, but honestly, once you know how to do it, it's pretty easy, no? we gotta step up and help out our neighbors in need, or else who's gonna be there for us when we really need 'em

this is super concerning, blood shortages shouldn't happen during holidays... think about all the people who get injured in accidents or need surgeries ... we gotta do something to increase awareness and encourage ppl to donate

omg this is crazy a 40% drop in donations is huge what's going on ppl? i mean we all know donations can be low during holidays but this is on a whole different level think about all the patients who need those transfusions like, people with cancer or trauma victims or even just everyday people having surgeries... it's not just about the flu season or bad weather, it's about human lives and we gotta step up! don't be that person who never donated before, it's so easy and it can literally save someone's life

OMG, like, people need to donate more blood ASAP! 40% less donations than usual? That's crazy ! I mean, we all know the winter holidays can be busy, but come on, let's not forget about those in need of a blood transfusion . Can't stress enough how crucial it is for trauma care and surgeries, especially during the flu season . Let's get more people to donate, stat! We can do this, Philly region! Donating blood isn't so scary, trust me . And, yeah, there are guidelines, but come on, let's make it easier for new donors to join in . Red Cross, you're doing great work, keep it up !

this is so worrisome, like, i know we're in winter but 40% decline in donations? that's crazy! i remember my aunt got a transfusion after surgery and it was literally lifesaving...anyway, experts say blood donations are crucial for trauma care and surgeries...it makes sense why people might not wanna donate 'cause they've had bad experiences or didn't know how to do it

i feel like the gov's been doing more charity drives etc but we need more of a push on awareness about blood donation think if everyone knew how to give blood & was comfortable doing so...i'd totes register for regular donations now

Man, this is a wake-up call for all of us . I'm not surprised to hear that donations decline during holidays, but 40% decline? That's crazy! It just goes to show how fragile our blood supply is and how dependent we are on others to keep it flowing . We often take things like this for granted until they're right in front of us. Let's take a lesson from this: be grateful for the people around you who give their time, effort, and even their own body parts . Every drop counts!

omg u guys idk what's goin on rn but Philly is facin a BIG blood shortage i mean we all know how much ppl love the Eagles, but now it's time to show some to the nurses & docs who need our help! they're talkin 'bout 40% less donations & hospitals are gettin worried...i got no idea what's goin on with ppl but maybe we can spread awareness & get more people to donate? i'm already plannin on headin out to the nearest blood drive this wkend let's do this philly!

OMG, I'm literally shaking my head but in a good way ... Okay so it's crazy to think about, but I guess the holiday rush can be kinda overwhelming for hospitals & patients too . But what's really concerning is that people aren't donating enough blood - 40% decline? That's some serious stuff! I mean, I know we're not supposed to complain, but this is just... *sigh*... let's all try to step up and be those amazing donors, shall we? I'm sure it'll only take one (or five ) of us to make a difference. Plus, think about how great you'll feel after donating - a natural high, right?

Ugh, bloody hell! A 40% decline in blood donations is a major concern for Philly hospitals this holiday season. I mean, what's the deal? Everyone's too busy shopping for presents to give back to their community? It's not like donating blood takes that long . And now we're on the cusp of a shortage? That's terrifying! Can't these people just take 30 minutes out of their day to save some lives? I know it's not always easy, but someone's gotta do it

omg is it even possible to have a blood shortage in Dec????? i mean i get that ppl dont wanna donate cuz of the holidays and all but 40% decline??? thats crazy!!! we need more ppl on board ASAP!! i mean i know theres guidelines but like what about all the extra ppl who wanna help out?? can't they just relax a lil bit?? i'm lowkey worried about the hospitals in philly region rn dont think its fair to put them in this situation we need more donations stat!! can someone pls make an app that notifies u when ur donation gets used??? thatd be AMAZING

this is crazy! a 40% decline in donations during the holidays? that's insane i mean, i get it, people might be busy or not feeling well, but to the point where hospitals are worried about running out of blood? that's just terrifying . and its not like people don't know how important blood donations are... we're always talking about organ donation and how lifesaving it is so why do some ppl opt out due to lack of awareness or bad experiences? it just feels like a lot of unnecessary risk taking, you know? anyway, i think its time for all of us to step up & donate some blood - every little helps, right? especially during the holidays when ppl need it most. gotta get more ppl involved in this!

I'm getting worried about this blood shortage in Philly . I mean, what if there aren't enough pints to go around? It's so crazy that people are opting out of donating due to lack of awareness or bad experiences. That just makes me sad . Donating blood is like, super important for hospitals and stuff. They can't do surgeries or treat cancer patients without it. I feel like we should all be doing our part to help out .

And the reason it's happening now is so weird - winter holidays and bad weather? Like, what does that have to do with anything? It's just a coincidence that people are less likely to donate because they're busy or stuff. We should be encouraging more donations not less!

this holiday season is all about giving, not just presents

I just heard about this blood shortage in Philly region , and it's really concerning. I mean, we're talking 40% decline in donations... that's a big drop! As someone who's lived long enough to see some ups and downs (ahem, retirement brings wisdom ), I've learned that our healthcare system relies heavily on the kindness of strangers. Donating blood isn't just about saving lives; it's also about investing in yourself – every 56 days is a chance to refresh your supply and give back .

The problem is, some folks don't realize how easy it is or might have had bad experiences in the past... I get it, awareness can be hard to come by. But we gotta spread the word! If you're feeling inspired, grab that blood test kit and head on over to a walk-in center . Every donation counts, no matter how small. We all should try to do our part – we never know when we might need it ourselves .

ugh I dont get why ppl wont donate blood its like saving lives or something my kid always asks me if she can donate her birthday present money to help people in need i say yes of course but it just highlights how generous we should be with our blood donations the Philly region is literally on edge rn due to this shortage... 40% decline in donations is crazy lets all try to step up & give back a little something to those in need

omg, i'm so worried about this blood shortage ! i mean, donating blood is literally a no-brainer, right? it's like, super important for people who need transfusions and all that. but apparently, some ppl dont even know that they can donate or have had bad experiences in the past... anywayz, lets get our community together to help out ! i've got friends who are regular donors and they always say its so easy and painless, like a quick coffee break . u should def try it if u haven't already, and we gotta spread the word to others too ! let's get those hospitals stocked up for the new year !

OMG, a blood shortage in Philly is no joke! I mean, I know we should be grateful for our bodies to donate blood but it's scary to think that people might not have enough transfusions during emergencies... What can we do, right? It's always easy to assume someone else will pick up the slack, but this affects real people . Can't help but wonder if it's related to the flu season too... Is there a way to make donating blood more appealing or fun? Maybe some fun events or rewards for regular donors

OMG, like, a blood shortage emergency in Philly region? That's super concerning! I'm all for supporting our healthcare workers and patients, but it's crazy to think about how hard they're gonna be hit this holiday season . Did you know that winter holidays are already a tough time for donations? People usually slow down during the holidays, but this year it's been even worse .

I'm so glad American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania is on top of it! They're trying to make sure we don't go over our supply . And can you believe people are opting out due to lack of awareness or past bad experiences? We need to spread the word about how amazing blood donations are ! If you haven't donated in a while, now's the perfect time to get back on track .

Those guidelines for donating blood make sense, though - we gotta prioritize our safety, right? And yay for walk-in centers and regular donors! Let's all do our part to support these amazing folks .

I'm super worried about this blood shortage . I mean, 40% decline in donations is crazy! What's going on? Is it really that hard to donate a pint of blood? It's not like they're asking for a kidney or something . And now NJ Blood Services is saying they have less than a two-day supply... what happens if someone needs a transfusion ASAP?

I'm also curious about the guidelines for donating blood. 16 years old and at least 116 pounds, huh? That's pretty restrictive. Can't we just relax these rules a bit? And why is it so hard to find info on blood donation? I mean, I can find info on how to grow my own food in 5 minutes, but finding info on donating blood takes forever .

Anyway, I'm all for encouraging people to donate blood! But we need more than just a few walk-in centers. We need a system that makes it easy and convenient for anyone to give blood. Like, have you seen those blood donation apps? They sound like they could work .