American Red Cross officials say 14,000 donations are needed every day to stay within the organization's average supply - with the need just as high during the holiday season. 

Unfortunately, said Red Cross representative Kelly Isenor, the number of blood and platelet donations decrease this time of year due to regular patients missing appointments, busy schedules and travel.
 
“To put it in perspective, last year there was about 64,000 fewer blood and platelet donations collected between Thanksgiving and the first week of January than the average for the rest of the year,” Isenor said.
 
To stay within supply needs, the Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give blood this month at one of their many office locations or blood drive events.
 
Alan Denomme, 66, of Central Village, gave blood Tuesday at Moosup Fire Department and said he donated because “the blood goes to other people in need and it’s only a small part of my day to give it.”
 
Denomme, who said he has given more than 100 blood donations to the Red Cross, said “it’s good for me too because it regenerates my blood cells.”
 
The Red Cross is always looking for donations of any blood type, but especially O negative because it is universal and can be used in any transfusion, no matter the patient’s blood type, according to Isenor.  
 
“I feel really guilty if I don’t donate because I’m O positive and I know a lot of people can’t donate because of the medications they take. If I was O negative I’d feel even guiltier and would never miss an appointment,” joked Stacia Webber, 48, of Moosup, who said Tuesday's donation was her  44th. 
 
The Moosup Fire Department hosts three to four blood drives a year, according to Karen LaFrance, president of the Moosup Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and organizer of the event.
 
LaFrance said each event typically includes about 18 to 22 pre-scheduled appointments along with a number of walk-ins.
 
“It brings the community together and saves lives as well,” LaFrance said. “I mean, we are a fire department, so we are always trying to save lives, but it’s nice to do it in other ways, too.”
 
Isenor stressed that blood donations are constantly needed to be prepared for emergencies, so donations must be made consistently for hospitals to always have an appropriate supply.
 
“You can’t predict the future, you don’t know what’s going to happen. The blood that is on the shelves now, it’s going to help in the case of a trauma or an emergency so we encourage people to come out as often as they can to keep that supply,” Isenor said.
 
“It’s not just accidents too, it’s cancer treatments, it’s surgeries, other trauma, there’s so many uses for blood. And human blood, it’s one of those things that can’t be manufactured in a lab, they’ve never been able to duplicate it to the right effect, so we rely on the generosity of blood donors,” Isenor said.
 
Blood donations can be made every 56 days and platelet donations can be made weekly. The American Red Cross center in Norwich is open every Tuesday and Thursday for donations and can be reached at: 1-800-733-2767.