'Blood Emergency' Declared As Donations Drop 40 Percent Below Demand: NY Blood Center

RONKONKOMA, NY — Blood donations have dropped nearly 40 percent below what is needed to meet hospital demand, resulting in less than a two-day supply of blood for more than 200 hospitals across the tri-state area, in the wake of recent disruptions to donations, prompting the New York Blood Center to issue an urgent call for donors, officials said Tuesday.

The emergency declaration follows an exceptionally challenging end to the year, caused by a combination of events that sharply reduced blood donations, like severe winter weather across New York, including a recent storm that dropped more than a foot of snow in some areas, resulting in the largest snowfall in four years, and led to disrupted travel and forced blood drive cancellations.

There has also been a record number of seasonal illness, with the state’s Department of Health reporting more than 71,000 positive flu cases in a single week, which is the highest single-week total since tracking began in 2004, according to the blood center.

There were also major holiday disruptions, with Christmas and New Year’s Day both falling on Thursdays, typically one of the highest collection days each week, resulting in a near-total loss of midweek donations for two consecutive weeks, and around 10,000 fewer donations than needed to meet hospital demand, the blood center said.

While January marks National Blood Donor Month, this year’s observance in the state comes during an active blood emergency, when patients cannot wait, and because blood has a limited shelf life, immediate donations are critical to stabilizing the supply and preventing disruptions to patient care.

Jeannie Mascolino, vice president of blood operations at the blood center, said staffers are entering the new year "with a critically low blood supply, and recent winter weather has made an already challenging season even more difficult."

“Blood is needed every single day for trauma care, surgeries, cancer treatment, and chronic conditions, and there is no substitute when donations fall short," she added.

The state's health commissioner, Dr. James McDonald, said that by opting to donate blood, residents are giving people

in need "a second chance at life," and he urged everyone, who is eligible to schedule an appointment and donate blood."

To help prevent emergencies like this one, the blood center encourages donors to become "All Seasons Lifesavers" by making blood donation a routine part of their lives and giving once each season in 2026.

The blood center is also offering additional donor frequency programs based on donation type, recognizing those who give consistently throughout the year.

To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org.