SACO — Whether it be due to the lead-up to the holiday season, hurricanes or other emergencies like the forest fires in California, residents aren’t donating blood like they usually do.

That’s according to Mary Brant of the American Red Cross, Northern New England division.

Brant said the phenomenon is a national issue for the Red Cross, not just in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the states that make up the Northern New England division.

“The norm is that we try to have a minimum five-day blood supply on hand, so we can respond, not only to day-to-day patient needs, but to be prepared for emergencies like hurricanes and fires,” said Brant in a telephone interview on Monday. “We have less than a three-day supply on hand nationally. It is going out as fast as it is coming in. That is not a comfortable place to be in.”

Brant said holidays are always a struggle for the agency, with people on vacation and visiting family and friends. But she said this year, the slowdown happened well before last week’s Thanksgiving holiday.

“In the five years I have been with the Red Cross, I have never seen it this bad,” she said. “Blood is a perishable product, so we always need donors. This really is an urgent need.”

The Red Cross has scheduled a number of blood drives across York County and the rest of the state. Among them is a blood drive at Saco’s Central Fire Station, 271 North St., set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.

The fire department’s public education coordinator, Karl Finley, said the department usually hosts hosts four to five blood drives a year, and have already committed to four for 2019.

“We’re very lucky,” said Finley. “We get a very good turnout.”  He said people who give blood at the Saco Fire Station usually book their appointment in advance.

“It’s a great thing to do,” said Finley of giving blood. “People can come look at the fire trucks and look at the ambulance,” and then give blood.

As well as a need for donors, Brant said, there is also a need for more hosts. She said the tri-state region could use 200 more blood drive hosts from now through February.

To donate blood at any of the following blood donor clinics, people may download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call the Red Cross at 800-733-2767 to make an appointment. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Here is the list of upcoming blood drives across York County:

• Acton: Dec. 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.,m. at Acton Fire & Rescue, 1725 Route 109

• Biddeford: Dec, 12, noon to 5 p.m., 5 p.m., YMCA 3 Pomerleau St.

• Cornish: Dec. 3, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Greenleaf Masonic Lodge #117, 142 Maple St.

• Kennebunk: Dec. 18, noon to 6 p.m., Saint Martha Church, 34 Portland Road.

• Kennebunkport: Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kennebunkport Fire Station, 32 North St.

• Lebanon: Dec. 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lebanon Fire and EMS, 1524 Carl Broggi Highway.

• Lyman: Dec. 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Goodwins Mills Fire Rescue, 481 Goodwins Mills Road.

• North Berwick: Dec. 4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Noble High School, 388 Somersworth Road; Dec. 5,
noon to 5 p.m., Yorkshire Lodge #179, 101 High St.

• Saco: Dec. 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Central Fire Station, 271 North St.; Dec. 3, 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 403 Main St.; Dec. 7, noon to 5 p.m., Frank Galos Chevrolet, 884 Portland Road

• Sanford: Nov. 29, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Preble Masonic Lodge # 143, 16 Elm St.; Dec. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Smitty’s Cinema, 1327 Main St.

• Wells: Dec. 18, noon to 6 p.m., Saint Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road.

• York: Dec. 19, 1 p.m. – to 6 p.m., Saint Aspinquid Masonic Hall, 101 Long Sands Road.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.