New Jersey's Blood Shortage Hits Rock Bottom as Winter Storm Fern Leaves Thousands of Donations Uncollected
Severe winter weather has dealt a devastating blow to the blood supply in New Jersey, with approximately 200 blood drives cancelled over the weekend due to harsh conditions. The American Red Cross is now offering $20 gift cards to donors who give blood or platelets from now until Wednesday in an effort to replenish dwindling supplies.
The crisis was already dire before Winter Storm Fern struck, with a 40% decline in donations since the winter holidays and lingering impacts of a strong flu season. Hospitals serving roughly 200 patients were left with less than a two-day supply of blood resources, prompting New Jersey to declare a blood emergency on January 6.
The shortage has severe consequences for patients awaiting surgery or cancer treatment. "Patients don't get a snow day," said Jeannie Mascolini, vice president of blood operations at New York Blood Center and New Jersey Blood Services. "Surgeries, cancer treatments, traumas and emergencies continue, and we need donors to help us recover."
To address the shortage, donors who schedule their appointments online between Monday and Wednesday will be eligible for a $20 gift card to a merchant of their choice. Eligibility requirements apply, with individuals aged 16 and weighing at least 110 pounds able to donate blood every 56 days.
The American Red Cross is urging people to step forward and donate, emphasizing the importance of replenishing the dwindling blood supply. As Mascolini noted, "This storm could not have come at a worse time... We were just starting to rebuild the blood supply when nearly 2,000 lifesaving donations were lost in a matter of days."
Severe winter weather has dealt a devastating blow to the blood supply in New Jersey, with approximately 200 blood drives cancelled over the weekend due to harsh conditions. The American Red Cross is now offering $20 gift cards to donors who give blood or platelets from now until Wednesday in an effort to replenish dwindling supplies.
The crisis was already dire before Winter Storm Fern struck, with a 40% decline in donations since the winter holidays and lingering impacts of a strong flu season. Hospitals serving roughly 200 patients were left with less than a two-day supply of blood resources, prompting New Jersey to declare a blood emergency on January 6.
The shortage has severe consequences for patients awaiting surgery or cancer treatment. "Patients don't get a snow day," said Jeannie Mascolini, vice president of blood operations at New York Blood Center and New Jersey Blood Services. "Surgeries, cancer treatments, traumas and emergencies continue, and we need donors to help us recover."
To address the shortage, donors who schedule their appointments online between Monday and Wednesday will be eligible for a $20 gift card to a merchant of their choice. Eligibility requirements apply, with individuals aged 16 and weighing at least 110 pounds able to donate blood every 56 days.
The American Red Cross is urging people to step forward and donate, emphasizing the importance of replenishing the dwindling blood supply. As Mascolini noted, "This storm could not have come at a worse time... We were just starting to rebuild the blood supply when nearly 2,000 lifesaving donations were lost in a matter of days."
. I mean, we know NJ is prone to crazy weather, but it's ridiculous that it's affecting the blood supply so much 
. And honestly, $20 gift card for donating? That's a pretty good motivator, but still, let's be real, shouldn't there be more incentives or something? 
I'm just glad they're pushing people to donate, though...it's not like we're all sitting around twiddling our thumbs waiting for someone else to step up 
. And omg, the fact that hospitals are running low on blood resources is just crazy 
. We gotta do better than this!
. It's just wild how quickly things can change. I wonder if they'll be able to get everything back on track after this storm passes... and what about those patients who are counting on surgeries? It's just not right that they have to wait because of something like weather 
.
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. Fingers crossed the blood supply gets replenished soon! 
anyway, $20 gift cards for donors sounds like a good idea 
maybe people will be more willing to give blood now 
gotta make sure those hospitals get that blood in there ASAP 
especially for all the patients waiting for surgeries or cancer treatments. i feel for them 
. Fingers crossed that things get back on track soon 
. The American Red Cross is doing a great job trying to get donations back on track with that $20 gift card thingy 
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thousands of donations left uncollected due to that harsh winter weather? it's like, we need blood donations ASAP but the bad weather is stopping people from donating 
. It's like they think it's not their problem or something. The $20 gift card thing is just gonna encourage people to donate because they can use the cash, not necessarily because they care about helping out 
. Can't we all just come together and help out each other for once? 
But seriously, 200 blood drives cancelled due to bad weather? That's crazy! On the other hand, I don't know if $20 gift cards are enough motivation for people to step up and donate... I mean, who doesn't love a good gift card, right? 
. I hope this $20 gift card incentive helps get more people to step up and help out – we really do need it right now 
why didnt they think of this sooner?? hospitals r still running low on supplies and patients r getting put on hold 4 surgeries & cancer treatment bc of it 
