Blood donation levels drop significantly in January due to cold weather and the scramble of the post-holiday season, the American Red Cross said. According to Advance Newspapers, blood donors are often kept from keeping appointments due to inclement weather and busy schedules during the month, meaning a drop in the amount of blood the Red Cross collects at the beginning of the year.
But hospitals in the United States can’t afford a decrease in blood donation. According to the Red Cross, patients nationwide need about 44,000 blood donations every day to provide for cancer care, surgeries and the treatment of disease and trauma.
NBC’s news affiliate in San Antonio, Texas reported just one example of the decrease in blood donation during the cold weather months. According to data from the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, the number of annual donors has dropped from 134,675 people in 2009 to just 16,482 people in 2011.
Anna Arce, a Marrow Recruitment Specialist at the Center, told NBC that she believes some people are kept at bay from donating blood because of the time commitment involved during an already busy time of year.
“I think it’s fear of the unknown,” Arce said. “It’s easy to sign up and have a cheek swab and fill out a consent form. But the actual commitment, I think that actually scares people.”
Information on blood donor schedules and locations can be found by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
