John A. Giandelone, executive director of New Jersey Blood Services, (NJBS), New Brunswick has declared an emergency blood donor appeal effective immediately.
Eligible donors are being urged to call toll-free, 1-877-902-5663 to schedule a donation appointment at one of the many blood drives held daily or at one of NJBS’s donor centers. Walk-in donors are always welcome.
The supply of Type O blood is the most common and in demand, and is projected to reach a less than one-day supply during December, and remain at reduced levels through February. As of Dec. 11, Type O blood shipments to area hospitals have already been reduced.
Giandelone points out, "The community’s supply of blood is far less than the five-day supply needed to deliver nearly 400 pints of lifesaving blood daily to patients in 60 hospitals in New Jersey.
This critical shortage creates a real and immediate healthcare crisis for our metropolitan community."
The low blood inventory is due to several factors including a lower than national average donor participation rate, an aging population, an increase in cancer diagnoses requiring aggressive chemotherapy with blood transfusion support, and more sophisticated medical and surgical procedures requiring blood.
Giandelone continued, "Less than 2 percent of eligible residents of New Jersey donate blood compared to 5 percent in most other parts of the nation. And, within New Jersey, the donor rate drops even further to less than 1 percent during the holiday season."
The shortage has become a nationwide problem beyond just holiday or seasonal periods, and the United States shortfall this year is expected to be over 250,000 pints of blood.
As there is no substitution available, communities nationwide are reliant on increased volunteer donors and donations.
"We are urging our existing donors to make one more blood or platelet donation this year or in January and ask others to ‘Give Blood and Save a Neighbor’ by joining a lifesaving blood donor team," concluded Giandelone.