Blood center faces supply crisis, in critical need of donors

The season’s only major snowstorm has left one of Connecticut’s blood centers in critical need of donors.

The storm that rolled through New England last week, dumping several inches of snow across the state, canceled nearly 100 Connecticut Blood Center appointments, as well as multiple blood drives, prompting the organization to declare a blood emergency. The storm, coupled with lower-than-normal donation levels in February, has left the blood center – which supplies over a dozen hospitals in the state with blood and blood products — with a supply level that will only last one to two days when it would normally have a supply that could last up to a week.

“It was the perfect storm, no pun intended,” said Caitlin Grimaldi-flick, marketing and communications manager at CTBC.

Grimaldi-flick said February was one of the worst collection months for blood over the past five years. The need for blood is as high as ever, while donor activity has still not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, she added.

Grimaldi-flick said donating blood takes an individual less than an hour and can save up to three lives. “It’s quick and painless,” she said.

The Connecticut Blood Center — which is operated by the Rhode Island Blood Center, a part of the New York Blood Center Enterprises — is calling on new donors, as the regular donors cannot keep up with the supply crisis.

All blood types are needed, though there is an extra emphasis on Type O blood and platelets. “We need Southern New Englanders to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life to help us stabilize the supply,” Beau Tompkins, vice president of the Connecticut Blood Center, said.

Blood donation appointments can be made by calling 800-283-8385 or visiting ctblood.org.