Irene causes blood shortage

As local officials work to restore electricity and assess property damage from Hurricane Irene, another critical problem has also resulted from the storm: a dangerous shortage of blood supplies in local banks.

The New York Blood Center is reporting that the supply of several blood types, including O-negative — the “universal donor” — has dropped well below the normal three-to-five-day inventory level, to below two days. More than 2,000 units of blood are considered to have been lost because of cancelled blood drives and closed donor centers, due to Hurricane Irene.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY4), who served as a nurse for three decades before becoming a Congresswoman, recently issued a statement urging Long Islanders to help replenish local blood supplies with donations.

“The rough winter and bad economy hurt blood donations earlier this year, and now Hurricane Irene has caused another shortage,” McCarthy said. “One of the easiest ways to save a life and prepare for future emergencies is by giving blood; I urge all able-bodied Long Islanders to give blood in their communities.”

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, anyone can call the New York Blood Center at 800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org.