Rochester Red Cross chapter director speaks about critically low blood supply; See where you can donate
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The American Red Cross says blood supply has fallen to critically low levels, leading to a nationwide emergency shortage in blood.
The Red Cross has needed to limit distributions of some of the most transfused blood types to hospitals recently. Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood has fallen by about 40%.
Ken Lee, executive director of the Rochester chapter of the American Red Cross, spoke live on News10NBC TODAY about the shortage. He said that despite modern technology, there is no way to manufacture blood. Donations are the only was hospitals can have a reliable blood supply to treat medical emergencies. Lee said one donation of blood could save the lives of three people.
In honor of National Blood Month, anyone who donates blood in the month of January will enter a lottery to win round-trip Super Bowl tickets for two including hotel expenses.
Here are some of the upcoming blood drives in the Rochester area. You can see a complete list and learn more about donating here.
- Friday, Jan. 12: Eyer Building, 317 Main Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 12: Perinton Blood Donation Center, 6687 Pittsford-Palmyra Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 12: Macedon Public Library, 30 Main Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 13: St Paul Boulevard Fire Department, 433 Cooper Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 13: Perinton Blood Donation Center, 6687 Pittsford-Palmyra Road from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Monday, Jan. 15: Perinton Blood Donation Center, 6687 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 16: American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave, from noon to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 17: Perinton Blood Donation Center, 6687 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 18: Irondequoit Town Hall, 1280 Titus Ave, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 18: Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Ave, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 18: American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can see the interview with Lee here: