With more snow and heavy rain in the forecast, New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), a division of New York Blood Center (NYBC) is asking donors to roll up their sleeves to replenish our community blood supply.
Many communities are still digging out from the accumulated snow, and getting hit with more — which hampers attendance at blood drives and means cancelled appointments at donor centers. The supply of some blood types – notably O-negative, which can be transfused into anyone in an emergency situation – is now below the minimum “safety level.”
”We’re confident of our ability to supply our 200 partner hospitals with whatever they need, but a lot of snow means we need a lot of extra help from our donors,” said NYBC Vice President Rob Purvis. There is no substitute for human blood, and about one in seven hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion. Blood is especially important for people with leukemia, other forms of cancer and, of course, for trauma victims.
Three factors are combining together to prompt NYBC’s emergency declaration:
— Many blood drives have been cancelled because of accumulated or predicted snowfall;
— Many donors haven’t been able to make scheduled donation appointments due to the weather;
— Hospital demand for blood types – notably O-negative, the universal blood type because of its usefulness in emergency situations – remains high.
To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566 or visit: www.nybloodcenter.org.
If you cannot donate but still wish to participate in bringing crucial blood products to patients in need, please ask someone to donate for you, or consider volunteering at a local blood drive. NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer months.
Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive — NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer and winter months. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, blood pressure and hematocrit level. Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 (with parental permission or consent), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor’s note.

