NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & SportsJanuary Red Cross Donations Lowest In A Decade

January Red Cross Donations Lowest In A Decade

by Amanda Hara

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The winter weather took its toll on more than local roads. It turns out it also cut off the blood supply to Red Cross centers all across Tennessee.

In fact, the extra snowfall forced a record number of people to cancel their appointments to give blood.

"We haven't seen it drop this drastically for the month of January in the last ten years," Joette Phillips with the Nashville Chapter of The American Red Cross said. "Across the entire Red Cross blood donation system, we've lost more than 14,000 donations including more than 1,000 in the Tennessee region this month."

Several mobile blood banks that were scheduled to visit area schools never left the lot because schools were closed. Although a few donors were able to make it in to the Charlotte Avenue Chapter on Wednesday, most of them are regulars who were called by recruiters desperate to stock up on blood. 

"That's why you do it right? You do it to help other people and whether it's to help them feel better or to save a life that's pretty important, that's what life's about right?  To help others," Donor Rob Patoja said.

As the roads get better, Red Cross officials hoped that donations would pick up again so that local patients who desperately need blood can get it.

The Red Cross is urging anyone who can give blood or platelets in unaffected area to make a donation by making an appointment with your local Red Cross. You can make appointments by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or by going to www.redcrossblood.org.

All blood types are needed, especially type O negative, to ensure a reliable supply for patients. You must be at least 17-years-old (16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health to donate blood.

Email: ahara@newschannel5.com