New York Blood Center (NYBC) is asking for help over the July 4 holiday and through the hottest summer weather to maintain an adequate supply of all blood types, but especially O-negative. In addition, hundreds of additional blood drives need to be scheduled to meet projected hospital demand.
Here’s the Top Ten Facts About NYC’s Summer Blood Supply:
People with O-negative blood are known as “universal donors” because their blood can be transfused to anyone.
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.
People with Rh negative blood, including A-, B- and O-, comprise just 15% of the population.
People of all blood types and ethnicities are encouraged to donate, and are critical to maintaining the diversity of Greater New York’s blood supply.
The months of July and August present challenges as schools and colleges close for the summer and employees leave for summer vacations. More than 25% of blood donations collected each year come from our high school and college blood drives.
Every two seconds, someone needs blood.
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.
Car accident and trauma victims may need 50 or more blood transfusions.
Police officers can be injured in the line of duty. First responders also face great danger during emergencies.
People can donate one pint of whole blood every 56 days and platelets every three days.
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
Please call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566
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.
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 NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor's note.
About New York Blood Center
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the largest independent, community-based blood centers in the country. Each year, NYBC provides approximately one million blood products to nearly 200 hospitals in the Northeast. NYBC also provides a wide array of transfusion-related medical services. NYBC is also home to the world’s largest public cord blood bank, which provides stem cells for transplant in many countries, and a renowned research institute, which – among other milestones -- developed the Hepatitis B vaccine and innovative blood purification technology. Website: www.nybloodcenter.org