SHORTAGE CONTINUES WITH A VENGEANCE

It was another tough weekend for the blood supply, as levels still remain critically low. This is the longest, deepest shortage of blood in the region for the past 5 years. Good summer weather and extremely heavy usage by local patients have thwarted all attempts to get the inventory back up.

"This is terrible," says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. "I literally can't remember the last time we experienced a shortage like this."

Hamot Medical Center Supports the Community Blood Bank

A blood supply shortage has area hospitals worried. The supply is under extreme stress in the summertime. 

There's an increased demand from more auto accidents and traumatic injuries, and blood in storage has a limited shelf life.

Red blood cells go bad in just about a month.  Blood platelets only last for four days.

"This is the time we're particularly short," said Dr. Peter Depowski of Hamot Medical Center.  "We're shorter than we've been in many years right now.  So we're in a big shortage right now."

The Community Blood Bank has expanded hours for donations tomorrow.

Watch this video for more information.

Count Down to the D-TV Conversion

With only about 6 months left until the DTV conversion in February 2009 many people are asking are you ready?   The best way to get ready is to give blood! All donors during the month of July will automatically be entered to win a beautiful 42" High Definition Plasma TV that is DTV ready.  JET TV 24 and yourerie.com generously donated this TV to help save lives locally.

This contest runs July 1st through July 31st and is intended to help the blood bank maintain a safe blood supply during the middle of summer, which is the hardest time of the year for the blood supply.  The Community Blood Bank has been struggling with a blood shortage for 2 weeks and officials hope this promotion will help end it.

"This TV is big and beautiful and could be in your family room for a hassle free way to handle the DTV conversion in February!"  said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the blood bank "We need lots of donors to make it safely through July, and we hope this TV from JET TV 24 does the trick!" 

St. Vincent Health System Weighs in on the Critical Blood Shortage

Saint Vincent Health Center is appealing to area blood donors on behalf of the Community Blood Bank (CBB).  This community asset serves the needs of hospitals throughout northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York and right now supplies are at critically low levels.

The CBB has issued appeals during the past several weeks.  Although there has been some response, it is obviously not enough to bring the community’s blood supplies to near acceptable levels.

“As a community, we need to anticipate rather than respond to times of crisis,” said Richard Cogley, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Saint Vincent Health System. “As a hospital we rely on having blood when our patients need it, and we are asking community members to help bring supplies back to near acceptable levels by donating if and when possible.”

Saint Vincent monitors blood supplies on a continuous basis and at this time, all surgeries have progressed as scheduled.  “We want to ensure that there are no delays,” said Dr. Cogley. “And the way to do that is to help increase blood supplies as soon as possible.”   

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