Urgent Need for Blood Donors in Madison! Appts Preferred

As our region reopens and hospitals anticipate the return of elective surgeries, New Jersey Blood Services division of New York Blood Center (NYBC) is issuing an urgent call for healthy blood donors. The need for blood has rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels, but the blood supply is dangerously low. In order to maintain a safe blood supply, a seven-day inventory of all blood types must be continually replenished. Right now, reserves are far below that minimum.Before COVID-19, mobile blood drives hosted by schools, organizations, and businesses made up around 75% of the region's incoming blood supply, but all drives had to be cancelled during the past several months.

NYBC will begin holding a limited number of mobile blood drives each week, but they are far from the 600 drives per month that would be required to meet the need at area hospitals. There will be a community blood drive at Madison Area YMCA (111 Kings Road) on Friday, July 10th between 10am-4pm. Appointments are encouraged & can be made by visiting http://tinyurl.com/donateblood... or text 732.616.8736. Walk-ins welcome if social distancing can be maintained.

Donating blood is safe and it only takes one hour. We are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. NYBC staff are also practicing health self-assessments prior to presenting at work. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they're experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.