As the holiday season approaches, a critical need for blood donations has prompted the Bath Ambulance Corps to host a Christmas Eve blood drive, offering residents an opportunity to give a life-saving gift this year.
The drive will be held on December 24 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Bath Ambulance Corps. Organizers emphasize the urgency of blood donations during winter, when supply levels typically drop due to holiday travel and seasonal illnesses. A single donation could help patients undergoing surgeries, cancer treatments, or emergency trauma care.
Interested donors can schedule an appointment via the American Red Cross here. Walk-in donors are also welcome, but appointments are encouraged to streamline the donation process.
According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States requires blood every two seconds. Despite this constant need, only 3% of eligible donors currently give blood each year. Blood products also have limited shelf lives, with red blood cells lasting just 42 days and platelets only 5 days, making regular donations essential.
Type O negative blood, often used in emergencies because it is universally compatible, remains in high demand. However, only 7% of the population has this blood type, resulting in frequent shortages.
Organizers of the Bath blood drive hope community members will step up to help address this critical need during the holiday season.
The decline in youth donations, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has further strained supplies. Between 2019 and 2021, donations from individuals under 25 fell by over 30%. These statistics highlight the importance of engaging all eligible age groups to donate.
Residents who donate at the Christmas Eve drive will not only help save lives but also support their local healthcare system, ensuring that hospitals have the resources needed to care for patients during one of the busiest times of the year.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].