N.J. Blood Services: Type O-negative a constant challenge for blood reserves

NEW BRUNSWICK — New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center (NYBC), 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," Cefarelli added. "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. 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.
New Jersey Blood Services will be conducting blood drives in Sussex County this month which are open to the public:
Saturday, April 16: Saint Kateri Parish, 427 Stanhope Road, Sparta, 7:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Sunday, April 24: St. Jude the Apostle, 24 Beaver Run Road, Hamburg, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 24: St. Francis de Sales RC Church, 614 Route 517, Vernon, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday, April 29: Hopatcong High School, 2 Windsor Ave., Hopatcong 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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.
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 N.Y. or N.J. State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor's note.
To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, please call toll free: 1-800-933-2566, or visit: www.nybloodcenter.org<http://www.nybloodcenter.org/>
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