New Jersey Blood Services will be conducting blood drives open to the public.
The following drives are scheduled:
Aug. 5, Calvary Episcopal Church, 44 Broad St., Flemington, 2:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Aug. 5, Healthquest, 310 Highway Route 31 North, Flemington, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Aug. 10, Flemington Elks Lodge 1928, 165 Route 31, Flemington, 2:30 to 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center, is asking for help to maintain an adequate supply of all blood types, but especially O-negative — the “universal” blood that can be transfused into anyone in an emergency.
In addition, hundreds of additional blood drives need to be scheduled to meet projected hospital demand. Current inventory of several blood types is running below the desired target level.
“It’s simple: hospital patient demand for blood often outpaces our best efforts to recruit donors and schedule blood drives,” said NYBC Executive Director of Donor Recruitment Andrea Cefarelli. “There are always reasons, but we have to overcome that for the sake of hospital patients who need us.
“This is one of the toughest times of the year. We’re asking for our dedicated supporters to roll up their sleeves to make sure we’re able to provide our hospital partners with whatever they need to take care of their patients.”
Blood products have a short shelf life — from five to 42 days — so constant replenishment is necessary. Every day, there are patients who depend on the transfusion of red blood cells, platelets and plasma to stay alive. But blood and blood products can’t be manufactured. They can only come from volunteer blood donors, who take an hour to attend a blood drive or visit a donor center.
To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, call the toll-free number, 800-933-2566, or visit www.nybloodcenter.org.
Those who cannot donate, but still wish to participate, can ask someone to donate for them or consider volunteering at a local blood drive.
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 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 New York or New Jersey State Department of Health donor criteria.
People over 75 may donate with a doctor’s note.
