NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY – 

New York Blood Center (NYBC) and New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS)  announced  YESTERDAY they are extending their blood emergency appeal for an additional two weeks after a historic winter storm brought blood donation operations across the region to a standstill, wiping out critical progress made in rebuilding the local blood supply.

The storm dropped more than a foot and a half of snow in parts of the region and forced the cancellation of all NYBC and NJBS operations on Sunday.

Weather-related disruptions have continued into this week, resulting in the loss of nearly 2,000 blood donations, a sudden and significant setback at a time when inventories had just begun to recover.

This marks the first time NYBC has been forced to extend an already-declared blood emergency due to a severe weather event.

Earlier this month, NYBC and NJBS declared a blood emergency as supplies reached critically low levels.

While initial donor response helped stabilize inventories, the storm erased that progress almost overnight, creating an urgent and renewed need for blood donations.

“This storm could not have come at a worse time,” said Jeannie Mascolino, Vice President of Blood Operations at New York Blood Center and New Jersey Blood Services.

 “We were just starting to rebuild the blood supply when nearly 2,000 lifesaving donations were lost in a matter of days.

Patients don’t get a snow day; surgeries, cancer treatments, traumas, and emergencies continue, and we need donors to help us recover.”

To prioritize donor and staff safety, all NYBC and NJBS donor centers opened midday Monday, January 26, allowing time for roads and parking areas to be cleared and for staff to travel safely. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment and donate if it is safe for them to do so.

PRIORITY BLOOD TYPES NEEDED

NYBC and NJBS are urging all eligible blood donors, especially those with O-, O+, and B- blood types, to give blood or platelets in the coming days to help stabilize the supply. All blood types are urgently needed. 

To view current eligibility guidelines or make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. 

In light of recent updates to FDA guidance, more people than ever may now be eligible to give.Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month.

To help prevent future shortages, NYBC and NJBS encourage donors to become All Seasons Lifesavers by donating once each season. NYBC and NJBS also offer additional donor loyalty programs that recognize consistent giving throughout the year. Learn more here.