(Host) Blood donations across northern New England have dropped off this month, especially in Vermont.
Officials with the American Red Cross have put out a plea to potential donors to help out.
Susan Parmer is the Red Cross’ chief executive for northern New England. She says a variety of factors have reduced donations.
(Parmer) “In evaluating what’s going on, we feel like we’re pretty much going through a perfect storm situation, between lots of illnesses across Vermont in particular, school vacation, and then the economic downturn has been a big distraction for our blood donors and the population at large.”
(Host) To keep up with demand, the Red Cross needs to collect 200 pints of blood a day in Vermont and 800 across northern New England.
So far this month, collections are 350 pints behind normal in Vermont and 650 pints below what’s needed across the three-state region.