New York Blood Center's Supply Of Blood Reaches Emergency Level

New York Blood Center's
supply of blood has reached an emergency level following the holiday
period. As 2007 kicks off, New York Blood Center and its regional
operations* have less than a 2 day supply of some blood types and urgently
ask all those eligible in New York and New Jersey to donate blood
immediately. Start the New Year with a resolution to give the gift of life
and do your part this month during "National Volunteer Blood Donor Month."



"I want to remind everyone that giving blood regularly -- saves lives.
It's that simple," said Robert L Jones, MD - New York Blood Center
President & CEO. "There is no substitute for human blood and our region's
only source is volunteer blood donors."


The New York/New Jersey metropolitan area requires nearly 2,000
volunteer donations daily to serve patients in our area hospitals. "We are
already reducing supply to our hospital customers of O Negative and B
Negative blood," adds Dr. Jones. "To avoid that situation getting worse,
and the possibility of expanded blood rationing to area hospitals, we need
people to understand how important blood donation is to the health of their
neighbors and larger community. We appeal not only to individuals but to
corporations, churches, synagogues, and schools to hold blood drives in the
next few weeks to raise our levels of all blood types," Dr. Jones
continued.



New York Blood Center, one of the nation's largest non-profit,
community-based blood collection and distribution organizations, urges both
past and new blood donors to donate this month and throughout the New Year.
Four million Americans would die each year without donated blood being
available. In fact, one of every three people will require a life-saving
transfusion sometime in their life.



Blood and platelet donors must be at least age 16 years old in New York
(17 years old in New Jersey), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in
generally good health. To locate a convenient donation location in New York
City, Long Island, New Jersey or the Hudson Valley, please call
1-800-933-BLOOD or go to nybloodcenter.



New York Blood Center operating regions include:



Brooklyn/Staten Island Blood Services, providing blood to hospitals in
Brooklyn & Staten Island;



Hudson Valley Blood Services, providing blood to hospitals in the Bronx
& Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster & Sullivan
Counties;



Long Island Blood Services, providing blood to Queens, Nassau & Suffolk
hospitals;



New Jersey Blood Services, providing blood to hospitals in Bergen,
Essex, Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset, Morris,
Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex & Passaic Counties;



New York Blood Services, providing blood to Manhattan hospitals.



New York Blood Center (NYBC), one of the nation's largest non-profit,
community-based blood centers, has been providing blood, transfusion
products and services to patients in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
hospitals since 1964. NYBC is also home to the Lindsley F. Kimball Research
Institute and the National Cord Blood Program at the Milstein National Cord
Blood Center, the world's first and largest public cord blood bank. NYBC
provides medical services and programs Clinical, Transfusion and Hemophilia
Services) through our medical professionals and transfusion medicine
physicians.


New York Blood Center

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