BLOOMINGTON - The area blood supply is hurting as winter weather conditions have decreased blood donations in the past month.

"The winter has been harsh and getting out to give blood has not been a priority" for some people, said Steve Stoewer, director of blood services for the Bloomington-based American Red Cross of the Heartland.

"We want all blood types right now," Stoewer said Monday.

Red Cross supplies blood to area hospitals and tries to have at least a three-day supply, meaning the amount of blood it typically takes to supply the hospitals in three days. While early January is a slow time for blood donations anyway, the Red Cross supply is lower than usual for this time of year because Red Cross collected less blood in December, Stoewer said.

Whole blood may be used within 42 days of being donated.

O-negative and B-negative are at a one-day supply, Stoewer said. O-negative is especially valuable because it is the only blood type that may be used in anyone, he said.

A-negative and AB-negative are at a two-day supply; O-positive and B-positive are at just below a three-day supply; and A-positive and AB-positive are at a three-day supply, Stoewer said.

Stoewer said the slowdown in collections because of the weather extends beyond Central Illinois.

The Springfield-based Central Illinois Community Blood Center - whose service area includes Logan and part of Tazewell County - is at a two-day supply for most blood types, said Lee Milner, director of community relations.

"This is kind of a slow period because of the weather," Milner said. Milner said the center's blood supply actually is slightly higher compared with this time last year.

"But we always need blood," he said.

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Blood drives

To make an appointment to give blood at an upcoming American Red Cross at the Heartland drive, call (309) 662-0500 or visit www.givebloodgivelife.org.

Upcoming drives include: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Streator City Hall, (800) GIVE LIFE ext. 1; 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Red Cross chapter house, Bloomington, sponsored by the Normal Knights of Columbus, (309) 662-0500; 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Red Cross chapter house, Bloomington, (309) 662-0500; 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington, (309) 434-2243; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Chenoa, (815) 945-7818.

To give blood at an upcoming Central Illinois Community Blood Center drive, call (866) GIVE BLD or visit www.cicbc.org. In The Pantagraph area, the center covers Logan and part of Tazewell County.

SOURCES: Steve Stoewer, Lee Milner