Summer Has ‘Negative’ Impact on Local Blood Supply

In response to an increased need for Rh negative blood, New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS) a division of the New York Blood Center (NYBC) is urging our community to roll up its sleeves, donate blood, and ensure hospital demands continue to be met over the summer.

Each and 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.

“Summer is crunch time for us,” said NYBC Vice President Rob Purvis. “Potential donors go on vacation and the school term ends. We’re asking people to schedule a blood donation along with their other summer plans.”

Here are the Top Ten Facts About Our Community’s Summer Blood Supply:

1.      People with O-negative blood are known as “universal donors” because their blood can be transfused to anyone.

2.      Type O-negative blood is found in just six percent of the population, and is often transfused to patients with other blood types in emergency rooms and trauma situations.

3.      People with Rh negative blood, including A-, B- and O-, comprise just 15 percent of the population.

4.      People of all blood types and ethnicities are encouraged to donate, and are critical to maintaining the diversity of our blood supply.

5.      The months of June, July and August continue to present challenges as schools and colleges close for the summer and employees leave for summer vacations. More than 25 percent of blood donations collected each year come from our high school and college blood drives.

6.      Every two seconds, someone needs blood.

7.      According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), trauma accounts for 37 million emergency department visits and 2.6 million hospital admissions each year, nationwide.

8.      Car accident and trauma victims may need 50 or more blood transfusions.

9.      Police officers can be injured in the line of duty. First responders also face great danger during emergencies.

10.  People can donate one pint of whole blood every 56 days and platelets every three days.

Here is a list of upcoming blood drives in Union County this month:

August 16 — New Providence Memorial Library, 377 Elkwood Ave., New Providence 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

August 17 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

August 17 — Burger King, 439 Morris Ave., Elizabeth 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

August 18 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

August 20 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

August 22 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

August 22 — Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael, 60 Temple Drive, Springfield 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

August 22 — Roselle Park High School, 185 West Webster Ave., Roselle Park 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

August 23 —Clark Volunteer Emergency Squad, 875 Raritan Road, Clark 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Aguust 24 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm

August 25 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

August 25 — The Outlet Collection/ Jersey Gardens, 651 Kapkowski Road, Elizabeth 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

August 27 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

August 28 — Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave, Cranford 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

August 28 — Linden Public Library, 31 East Henry St, Linden 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

August 29 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

August 31 — Scotch Plains Donor Center, 2279 South Ave, Scotch Plains 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive,

Please call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566 / Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

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, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin 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.

About New York Blood Center: New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to hospitals serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. NYBC is also home to the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute and the National Cord Blood Program at the Howard P. Milstein National Cord Blood Center, the world's largest public cord blood bank. NYBC provides medical services and programs (Clinical, Transfusion, and Hemophilia Services) through our medical professionals along with consultative services in transfusion medicine.

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