Facing Another Shortage, N.H. Hospitals Need Blood Donations

It’s time to roll up a sleeve, because the Red Cross is in the midst of a severe national blood shortage. Across New England, increased emergency room visits and traumas are depleting the blood supply. And New Hampshire hospitals are among those struggling with the fluctuating amount of blood. 

Those who have chosen to defer elective surgeries due to the pandemic are opting to get them now, putting a strain on hospitals.

“It’s the blood on the shelves that saves lives,” Mary Brant, a spokesperson for Red Cross Northern New England says.

Brant says the Red Cross usually keeps a five-day supply of blood in stock at all times. Currently, they only have enough blood for half-a-day’s supply.

According to Brant, a similar shortage happened at the beginning of the pandemic. Blood drives had to shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions and now the Red Cross has seen the demand for red blood cells in their hospitals increase by 10%, which is five times the growth of other facilities providing transfusions.

“There is simply no other source for blood than a healthy volunteer blood donor,” says Brant. “We need more donors.”

For New Hampshire, 165 pints of whole blood are needed each day to keep the Red Cross’ supply stocked. This means 1,155 different Granite Staters need to donate each week, and once they give, they can’t again for eight weeks. Nationally, only 3% of the United States population are blood donors, meaning 12,500 people need to donate blood every day to meet the needs of patients across the United States.

Lauren Collins-Kline, a spokesperson for Catholic Medical Center, says the need for a stable blood supply is more important than ever.

“You need to be sure you have that supply ready to go when and where it’s needed,” Collins-Kline says. “And right now that’s the big question mark.”

The Red Cross has offered incentives to encourage people to give blood, but Brant says most people donate because they want to help. “It's more of a way for the Red Cross just to say thank you to those people who make time to share their good health,” she says.

Brant says that for those worried about COVID-19 and safety at blood donation sites, the Red Cross is following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended guidelines.

You can schedule an appointment to give blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Below, find a list of blood drives around New Hampshire.

Alton

• 7/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saint Katharine Drexel Church, 40 Hidden Springs Rd.

Amherst

• 6/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 

Bedford

• 6/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, 250 S River Rd.
• 7/9/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, 250 S River Rd.

Belmont

• 6/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. Joseph Church, 96 Main St.

Bristol

• 7/6/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m, Marian Center, 17 West Shore Rd.

Claremont

• 7/12/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Claremont Senior Center, 5 Acer Heights Rd.

Concord

• 6/29/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., IBEW Local 490, 48 Airport Rd.
• 7/14/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., IBEW Local 490, 48 Airport Rd.
• 7/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Concord Red Cross Office, 2 Maitland St.
• 7/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn - Concord, 172 North Main St.
• 7/8/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., NH Audubon McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Rd.

Conway

• 7/13/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post #46, 47 Tasker Hill Rd. 

Danville

• 6/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Danville Community Center, 169 Main St.

Derry

• 7/9/2021: 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Church of the Transfiguration, 1 Hood Rd.

Dover

• 7/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Mary Church, 25 Chestnut St.
• 7/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Dover Moose Hall, 45 Chestnut St.
• 7/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Dover Baptist Church, 151 Washington St.

Durham

• 6/29/2021: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Durham Evangelical Church, 114 Dover Rd.
• 6/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Durham Evangelical Church, 114 Dover Rd.

Epping

• 7/15/2021: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., American Legion Post 51-Epping, 232 Calef Highway

Exeter

• 7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Exeter Presbyterian Church, 73 Winter St.

Farmington

• 7/2/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Farmington Rec Dept, 531 Main St.

Goffstown

• 7/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Congregational Church of Goffstown, 2 Church St.

Greenville

• 7/1/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., New Covenant Bible Church, 32 Mill St.

Hancock

• 7/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Meeting House, 47 Main St.

Hanover

• 7/12/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Hanover Inn, 2 E Wheelock St.

Hollis

• 7/10/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Neil Stone's Karate Academy, 22 Proctor Hill Rd.

Hudson

• 7/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., White Birch Banquet Hall, 222 Central St.

Jaffrey

• 7/14/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., VFW Hall, 12 Hathorn Rd.

Keene

• 6/29/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Keene, 105 Maple Ave.
• 7/10/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monadnock Covenant Church, 90 Base Hill Rd.
• 7/12/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Best Western Plus Sovereign Hotel, 401 Winchester St.
• 7/13/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Best Western Plus Sovereign Hotel, 401 Winchester St.

Laconia

• 6/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Leavitt Park House, 334 Elm St.

Lebanon

• 7/7/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion Post 22, 189 Mechanic St.

Littleton

• 7/1/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., St. Rose of Lima, 82 High St.

Londonderry

• 7/1/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Londonderry High School, 295 Mammoth Rd.
• 7/13/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Londonderry Lions Hall, 256 Mammoth Rd.

Manchester

• 6/29/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Great North Aleworks, 1050 Holt Ave.
• 7/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., YMCA of Downtown Manchester, 30 Mechanic St.

Marlborough

• 6/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Community House, 160 Main St.

Meredith

• 7/10/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Meredith Office Complex, 8 Maple St. 

Merrimack

• 7/6/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., St John Neumann Church, 708 Milford Rd.

Milford

• 7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Milford NH Masonic Temple, 30 Mt. Vernon St.

Moultonborough

• 7/2/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Moultonborough Lions Club, 139 Old Route 109A

Nashua

• 6/30/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Nashua Elks Lodge, 12 Murphy Dr., Unit B-1
• 7/7/2021: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Nashua High School South, 36 Riverside Dr.
• 7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 2200 Southwood Dr.
• 7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Nashua Baptist Church, 555 Broad St.
• 7/15/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Nashua Elks Lodge, 12 Murphy Dr., Unit B-1

Newington

• 7/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mall at Fox Run, 50 Fox Run Rd.
• 7/14/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mall at Fox Run, 50 Fox Run Rd.

Newmarket

• 7/6/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Newmarket Polish American Club, 18 Central St.

Newport

• 6/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sugar River Bank, 10 North Main St.
• 7/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sugar River Bank, 10 North Main St.

North Conway

• 7/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cranmore Mountain Resort, 239 Skimobile Rd.

Plymouth

• 7/3/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 354 Fairgrounds Rd.
• 7/14/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Common Man Inn, 231 Main St.

Portsmouth

• 6/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Piscataqua Savings Bank, Griffin Park, 200 Griffin Rd. Unit 10
• 7/1/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Activity Center, 125 Cottage St.
• 7/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury Ave.
• 7/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury Ave.
• 7/8/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Piscataqua Savings Bank, Griffin Park, 200 Griffin Rd. Unit 10
• 7/12/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury Ave.
• 7/15/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Best Western Plus Wynwood Hotel & Suites, 580 US Hwy 1 Bypass

Raymond

• 7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Raymond Baptist Church, 145 Rte 27 

Rochester

• 7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Rochester Knights of Columbus, 250 Columbus Ave.
• 7/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rochester Knights of Columbus, 250 Columbus Ave.

Seabrook

• 7/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Trinity United Church Parish House, 29 Main St.
• 7/12/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity United Church Parish House, 29 Main St.

Somersworth

• 7/14/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Next Level Church, 436 Route 108

Tilton

• 7/1/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Tanger Outlet Center, 120 Laconia Rd.
• 7/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Tanger Outlet Center, 120 Laconia Rd.
• 7/3/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Tanger Outlet Center, 120 Laconia Rd.
• 7/10/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Tanger Outlet Center, 120 Laconia Rd.

Warner

• 7/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., United Church of Warner, 43 East Main St.

Waterville Valley

• 7/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Waterville Valley Conference Ctr, 56 Packard's Way

Windham

• 7/14/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., St. Matthew Church, 2 Searles Rd.

Wolfeboro

• 6/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Wolfeboro Inn, 90 N Main St.
• 7/8/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Huggins Hospital, 240 South Main St.