SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - This year’s winter weather has prompted a dwindling supply of blood in parts of the state, according to one Illinois blood bank.
The Central Illinois Community Blood Center said its supply for Springfield-area hospitals is at its lowest levels in years, the (Springfield) State Journal-Register reported (https://bit.ly/1g0eAQz ).
“It’s been really devastating to our blood supply,” said Tara Matheson, the manager of donor relations at the Springfield center.
Authorities say the January and February’s snow, ice and bitter temperatures kept people from donating about 575 units of blood. Roughly a dozen blood drives in the area were scrapped.
While officials say they don’t know of any surgeries that have been postponed because of the shortage, they’re still asking residents to consider donating to make up for the shortfall.
Blood supplies typically fall between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, but the supply begins to climb again in January.
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Information from: The State Journal-Register, https://www.sj-r.com
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