Roll Up Your Sleeves! As More Snow Falls, More Blood Donors Are Needed

January is National Blood Donor Month

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- January is National Blood Donor Month, and New York Blood Center (NYBC) serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, urges the community to please donate blood to continue replenishment of the regional blood supply after the snowstorm of January 7-8, 2011 and the blizzard of December 26-27, 2010.  More wintry weather can be expected in the days and weeks ahead.

"We're still down about seven percent from what we need in blood donations, and we need everyone's continued help.  We shudder to think what would've happened if our communities hadn't answered our call for help after the blizzard. NYBC, and the hospital patients we serve, thank you," said Rob Purvis, NYBC Vice President.

The purpose of National Blood Donor Month is to increase awareness of volunteer blood donation.  First-time and regular donors are encouraged to make a difference to their communities by scheduling an appointment to give blood every January, and regularly thereafter.  Area businesses, local governments and community groups are asked to step up and take the National Blood Donor Month Challenge by holding community blood drives this month, in the spirit of impromptu, unified team responses gaining popularity on YouTube and Facebook.

Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness.  Approximately 25% of regional blood collection comes from high schools and colleges, many of which have winter recess this month.

Each day in the U.S., more than 40,000 units of blood are needed in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims.  Approximately five million Americans will receive a blood transfusion this year, and the only place to get this precious resource is from volunteer blood donors.

Fewer than 5 percent of healthy Americans eligible to donate blood actually donate each year.  In New York, only 2% actually donate.  Dedicated blood donors striving to change those statistics include:

Muriel Gluck, a 4-year breast cancer survivor, began donating blood again once eligible.  Her passion for donating blood resulted in a birthday blood drive she hosted last summer with her two sisters, one a blood recipient and the other also a blood donor.  Muriel is also a leukapheresis (directed) blood donor, whose white cells have aided a child suffering from leukemia.

At only 21, Christopher Crayon is a dedicated and committed blood donor who informed NYBC that he was available to donate over the recent holiday weekend. Christopher also donated platelets to be sure he would be a match for special patients if the need arose.

"He is the type of donor that will stand in the gap and donate whenever we call.  Every time I speak to him, I am reminded that the world is a better place because of people like him," said Harvey Schaffler, NYBC.

People can donate one pint of whole blood every 56 days.  An adult of average weight has about 10 to 12 units of blood, so one pint is easy to spare.  If you cannot donate, then please ask someone to donate for you.  NYBC is thankful for the individuals, employers, community groups, schools and religious organizations that are steadfast in their commitment to blood drives during the winter season and throughout the year.

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 the summer.  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. Please visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/newyorkbloodcenter.  Follow us on Twitter: @NYBloodCenter.

SOURCE New York Blood Center