A series of upcoming blood drives in Brooklyn could be a lifeline for New York’s dangerously low blood supply, as the New York Blood Center on Monday declared a blood emergency following a sharp drop in local donations.
With less than a one-to-two-day supply of critical blood types, the center said it has had to import hundreds of units from out of state — a stopgap that experts say cannot sustain the state’s high-volume hospital system heading into summer.
“If just 1% more New Yorkers stepped up to give blood – about 195,000 new donors – we could cut the shortfall in half and bring real stability to our blood supply, especially as we prepare for emergencies and trauma season,” said Andrea Cefarelli, senior vice president at New York Blood Center. “We urgently need the community’s help to rebuild the blood supply and prevent this situation from becoming more dire.”
The New York Blood Center is calling on eligible donors to schedule appointments at fixed sites and mobile blood drives, including several planned this week in Brooklyn. Officials are also encouraging schools, businesses, houses of worship and other organizations to host emergency drives to help meet the rising need.
The declaration comes as New York enters the height of “trauma season,” the late spring and summer months when accidents and emergency room visits tend to spike. Blood donations, meanwhile, typically wane due to travel, school breaks and holiday schedules — a combination that experts warn is especially dangerous this year.
“As blood donations continue to decline across the state, I urge all eligible New Yorkers to rise to the occasion and give the gift of life,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “Each pint of blood is more than just a donation — it’s a lifeline to someone battling illness, undergoing surgery, or recovering from trauma.”
New York, home to nearly 19.5 million residents, has one of the lowest donor participation rates in the country, with just 2% of the population giving blood, compared to a 3% national average. Officials say a stable system would require at least 4% of New Yorkers — roughly 780,000 people — to donate regularly. The state is currently short nearly 390,000 donors.
Half of New York’s blood supply depends on community-based drives, but June projections show the city is 5,000 donations short. Officials say that gap would require more than 100 new drives to fill.
And New York is not alone.
Low donation rates have become a persistent national problem, according to the American Red Cross, which last summer reported its lowest donation levels in two decades — a trend mirrored locally, where only 2% of residents donate blood.
“Donating blood is one of the most direct and impactful ways to support our healthcare system and save lives,” Cefarelli said.
Donors can give whole blood every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice a month. The Food and Drug Administration recently lifted several eligibility restrictions, broadening the pool of potential donors.
On Wednesday, June 4, donors can give at Brooklyn Brewery (79 N. 11th St.) from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or at Greenhouse Café (7717 Third Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Additional drives are scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, from 12 to 6 p.m. at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health (2601 Ocean Parkway) and Bailen a nGael “Home of the Irish” (2750 Gerritsen Ave.).
For those unable to attend a mobile drive, the Brooklyn Donor Center at 30 Flatbush Ave. Ext. remains open throughout the week: Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Thursday from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-933-2566 or visiting nybc.org.
