The Rhode Island Blood Center warns the blood supply is critically low. As of a few days ago it's down to a one-to-two day inventory when the standard is a seven-day supply. There's concern the situation may worsen with fewer donations due to holiday travel, winter weather and the pandemic.
“Donating blood is safe and easy, and there is no substitute that healthcare workers can use to care for patients. The best gift you can give to our hospitals and the patients they care for is some peace of mind that they will have the lifesaving blood they need,” according to Beau Thompkins, the executive director of the Rhode Island Blood Center. . “In a normal year, winter is a difficult time to maintain the blood supply. Unpredictable weather, cold and flu season, school breaks, family and holiday travel all contribute to making blood donations less of a priority. Normally, October and November are a time where we build our inventory in anticipation of these challenges, but this year is especially dire without a solid inventory pre-holiday and the news of a new variant.”
The Blood Center says coronavirus precautions are in place and appointments to donate can be made online at R-I-B-C-dot-org.
(Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)