Ahead of World Blood Donor Day, the American Red Cross of Northern New England is asking people in the area to help fill a critical need after a concerning drop in donations. The American Red Cross typically sees the number of donors decrease during the summer as more people travel or have less time to donate. However, in May, the Red Cross reported the number of donors dropped by about 20,000 as the shortage of blood and platelets persists. “Summer is usually a time when we experience a drop in donors, and to see that happen in May is concerning,” said Dan Dowling, of the Red Cross New England chapter. “We’re rallying people now to get ahead of the same here and donate before the summer rush really hits,” Dowling said. According to the Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds and a single donation could save up to three lives. Last week, the Northern New England chapter called Zachary Dimotta, who is a universal platelet donor. He traveled an hour to help. “This is about a two- or three-hour process, but it’s a good reason to come to Burlington and get up here and obviously help,” Dimotta said. Dimotta has only donated platelets twice, but he told NBC5 he tries to donate blood at least four or five times a year. “Knowing that there’s families attached to that and helping their families know that their mom or dad or grandma, grandpa, whoever it is, they’re going to get healthy, they’re going to get back on their feet, feels good,” Dimotta said. Anyone who signs up to donate through the Red Cross by June 30 could receive a $15 gift card to the store of their choice. Click here to find a donation site near you. Anyone who wants to donate blood in northern New York can do so through the Adirondack Regional Blood Center. A full donation schedule for June is available on their website.
Ahead of World Blood Donor Day, the American Red Cross of Northern New England is asking people in the area to help fill a critical need after a concerning drop in donations.
The American Red Cross typically sees the number of donors decrease during the summer as more people travel or have less time to donate. However, in May, the Red Cross reported the number of donors dropped by about 20,000 as the shortage of blood and platelets persists.
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“Summer is usually a time when we experience a drop in donors, and to see that happen in May is concerning,” said Dan Dowling, of the Red Cross New England chapter.
“We’re rallying people now to get ahead of the same here and donate before the summer rush really hits,” Dowling said.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds and a single donation could save up to three lives.
Last week, the Northern New England chapter called Zachary Dimotta, who is a universal platelet donor. He traveled an hour to help.
“This is about a two- or three-hour process, but it’s a good reason to come to Burlington and get up here and obviously help,” Dimotta said.
Dimotta has only donated platelets twice, but he told NBC5 he tries to donate blood at least four or five times a year.
“Knowing that there’s families attached to that and helping their families know that their mom or dad or grandma, grandpa, whoever it is, they’re going to get healthy, they’re going to get back on their feet, feels good,” Dimotta said.
Anyone who signs up to donate through the Red Cross by June 30 could receive a $15 gift card to the store of their choice. Click here to find a donation site near you.
Anyone who wants to donate blood in northern New York can do so through the Adirondack Regional Blood Center. A full donation schedule for June is available on their website.
