Lehigh Valley Blood Center sees drop in donations following canceled blood drives

Lehigh Valley Blood Center sees drop in donations following canceled blood drives

By K.C. Lopez

March 24, 2020

Lehigh Valley Blood Center has seen a drop in donations following canceled blood drives, WLVR’s K.C. Lopez reports.

The Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is urging those who are healthy and able, to donate, as the coronavirus crisis adds pressure to the nation’s already low blood supplies. The center has also extended its hours following a drop in donations.

Qiana Cressman, director of recruitment and development at Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Bethlehem says local blood centers are in desperate need.

“Our local healthcare systems are taking proactive and measured steps in order to manage the COVID19 worldwide pandemic but the availability and safety of our local blood supply has reached a critical stage,” said Cressman.

Cressman says a major challenge is that older residents, who typically donate more often, are being advised to stay home.

“We have an aging donor demographic who have carried us for a really long time with consistently donating blood and now that that aging demographic is only donating as much as they can, we are now relying on the younger generation to pick up the baton.”

Cressman says Miller-Keystone Blood Center locations rely on 450 donors every day to meet the needs of 29 area hospitals. 

She says her center is making every effort to make the process safe for all involved.

Watch K.C.’s full PBS39 News Tonight Report.