Commack Blood Drive To Be Held In Fallen Suffolk Officer's Honor

COMMACK, NY — The 11th annual blood drive in memory of fallen Suffolk police officer Glen Ciano is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday in Commack, according to the New York Blood Center.

The drive will be held at Commack Fire Department, at 6309 Jericho Turnpike.

Ciano served in the Suffolk County Police Department for 22 years. He is survived by his two children and wife, who attend the blood drive in his memory each year. Since the annual blood drive was first held in 2011, 1,529 donations have been made in his memory.

Potential donors can sign up on the New York Blood Center website or by calling 1-800-933-2566.

It takes roughly an hour to donate blood, and a single donation can save multiple lives, according to the blood center. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients; accident, burn, or trauma victims; newborn babies and their mothers; transplant recipients; surgery patients; chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia; and many more.

The blood center is taking extra precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.