Don't have a snow plow but would still like to help out your neighbors? Donate blood. Due to the snow storm and driving bans, local blood supplies are in jeopardy.
Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs is holding a Unyts Blood Drive on Saturday at the Erie County Auto Bureau in Cheektowaga, and is urging the community to donate and ensure there is enough blood available for local patients.
Jacobs said, “With the winter storm our area just encountered, Unyts had to cancel several recent blood drives. The need for blood locally is significant in order to offset this shortage.”
According to Unyts, approximately 100 people throughout Western New York alone need blood every day. About 1 in 7 hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion. Unyts is the primary supplier for Kaleida Health and ECMC. With a limited shelf life, supplies must be continually replenished at area hospitals across Erie County.
“There is also a higher need going into a holiday week, as fewer donors give blood due to busy schedules,” said Jacobs. “So we are hoping that the community and many of our customers doing business with us, especially O negative donors, will take the time today to save someone’s life in the WNY community,” he added.
