NORWAY — The blizzard that clobbered much of the Atlantic coast Feb. 22-23 had a negative impact in an area most people wouldn’t think: blood donations.

Blood drives were canceled nearly everywhere the storm affected, according to the American Red Cross. With blood bank supplies at an 18-month low by January, poor weather was the tipping point to a severe blood shortage nationwide.

According to Jennifer Costa, communications director for the Red Cross’ Northern New England Region, the eight blood drives canceled Feb. 22 and 23 in Maine and New Hampshire alone had the potential to impact the well-being of as many as 200 patients.

“Every two seconds, someone needs a blood donation,” Costa said. “There is not much the average person outside of the medical field can do to save a life, but they can donate blood.”

The Oxford Hills area has five opportunities between March 11 and April 24 to do its part.

MaineHealth Stephens Hospital holds a blood drive every four weeks; the next two are scheduled March 27 and April 24.

In Paris, Moss Brook Church is sponsoring one at its High Street offices March 11.

There will also be one March 27 at the United Parish Congregational Church on Main Street in Harrison, and one April 8 at the Norway Fire Department on Danforth Street.

Mainers 18 years and older can go to redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive to find a blood drive nearest them.

There are some general health conditions that must be met to donate — a donor should be in good health and feel well on the day they donate. Women must weigh at least 110 pounds and men 130 pounds.

“When you come to your donor appointment, a phlebotomist will conduct a general screening,” Costa said. “There may be instances where a fever or not meeting the amount of hemoglobin your system needs may mean you’ll have to cancel. But that doesn’t mean you can’t donate on a different day.”

Women should have a hemoglobin level of at least 12.5g/dL and men 13.0g/dL, and anyone with more than 20.0g/dL will have to delay giving.

Stephens Hospital’s February blood drive was held last week at the Ripley Building next to the hospital. That morning, most of the people donating were of retirement age. They all had similar motivations.

Brenda Sturdivant, of Norway, said she needed to take a break from donating due to a cancer diagnosis, but she’s back with her sleeve rolled up.

“There was about a year-and-a-half that I was not able to because I had cancer,” she said. “This will be my second time since getting better.

“I donate whenever I can; I’ve donated probably 30 times,” Sturdivant added. “No idea how many years I’ve been doing it.”

MaryAnne Hill, who lives in the Oxford area, is also a frequent donor.

“I’ve done this on and off for probably the last 15 years,” she said. “Sometimes I’m off, when I travel, or whatever. Donating blood is the right thing to do.”

According to statistics shared by Costa, 62% of U.S. adults are eligible to donate their blood, but only about 3% do.

A pint of donated blood can only be stored up to 42 days, so the need never wanes.

“We encourage people to grab a buddy to do it the first time,” Costa said. “Establish a tradition.” 

For the best experience, people should eat iron-rich foods in the days leading up to their appointment.

“Meats and poultry, dark green vegetables and iron-fortified grains are ideal,” Costa said. “It’s also important to hydrate well before your donation and afterwards.”

Daniel Witham, of Oxford, works at Stephens and donates blood whenever he is eligible, which is every six weeks.

“It’s to save lives,” he said, adding that he does it five or six times a year.

Norway resident Steven Reniewicz said he books his donation appointments ahead to make sure he never misses the chance.

“I have my next two set up already,” he said. “I like to donate here at the hospital because it’s close to home. I come as often as I can.”

Costa said that if anyone considering donating blood for the first time is unsure, they should visit the Red Cross website’s FAQ section, or call 800-RED-CROS (800-733-2767) to speak directly to a specialist.

There are also perks to donating: this month’s donors not only receive a $15 Amazon gift card but are being given a free A1C screening for diabetes.

“A1C screening is something we’ve recently started offering,” Costa said. “And from our first year of data we have learned that one in five donors have pre-diabetes. So they can save their own lives, too.”