New Jersey Blood Services plans to conduct local blood drives which are open to the public. The following drives are scheduled:

Fri., March 24, 2017   Madison Area YMCA, Madison 2 p.m.- to 8 p.m.

Mon. March 27, Knights of Columbus 3665,, Netcong 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thur., March 30,  Delbarton School,  Morristown 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

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 which 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.

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive
call 1-800-933-2566; visit: www.nybloodcenter.org.