New Jersey Blood Services Takes Center Stage in Fight Against Emergency Blood Shortage
Every day, patients rely on blood transfusions and the transfusion of red blood cells, platelets and plasma to stay alive. But blood and blood products cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors.
Blood products also typically have a short shelf life – ranging from five to 42 days, so constant replenishment is needed.
There remains an emergency blood shortage due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has limited the amount of walk-in community blood drives at such convenient locations as schools, libraries and houses of worship.
New Jersey Blood Services (2279 South Ave.), a division of New York Blood Center, is part of one of the largest independent, community-based, non-profit blood centers in the United States that provides lifesaving blood products and services to nearly 200 hospitals in the tri-state area.
In order to be an eligible donor, you must be at least 16 years old (with parental permission or consent for those under 18 years of age), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all FDA and state Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 years old may donate with a doctor’s note.
If you are interested in donating blood, click here to be directed to the donor portal.
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