HYANNIS – Cape Cod Healthcare is reaching out to area residents to help fill a blood shortage affecting the region.
Due to the inclement weather over the past few weeks, there has been a drop in blood donations to local blood drives. Some drives were canceled and others saw low turnout due to the weather conditions.
The Cape’s largest healthcare provider is reminding the public that there is a constant need for blood and blood products for patients at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital.
“Everything that’s donated on the Cape stays on the Cape to help our friends and neighbors,” said Mike Bundy, CCH’s Chief Operating Officer.
“We have proven logistical lines to get off Cape product in order to meet any shortfalls that we have but we know it’s just better for us to take care of our own needs and help our friends neighbors out anyway that we can.”
Blood products must continually be replenished due to their short shelf life. Whole blood has a shelf life of 42 days, and platelets have a shelf life of just five days.
There are numerous blood drives being held throughout Cape Cod next week and in April. A few upcoming drives include:
March 27: 12 noon to 5 p.m., Chatham Community Blood Drive, Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street, Chatham
March 28: 10 am. to 3:30 p.m., Falmouth Hospital, 100 Ter Heun Drive, Falmouth
March 30: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Market Basket, 1 Factory Outlet Way, Sagamore
April 3: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Barnstable Police Department, 1200 Phinneys Lane, Hyannis
April 4: 12 noon to 6 p.m., Bass River Rod and Gun Club, Route 6A, Yarmouthport
April 5: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Shepley Showcase, 75 Ben Franklin Way, Hyannis
All the blood collected at Cape Cod Healthcare Blood Drives stays here on Cape Cod to provide life-giving support to patients who need it during surgery, trauma or for chronic conditions.
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