NEW YORK, -- New York Blood Center (NYBC), serving New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, calls upon people of diverse backgrounds to please donate blood. The need for blood is constant. Hospital use of blood products remains high due to surgeries, emergencies, and care of cancer patients, and about one in seven people entering a hospital needs blood.
February is National Black History Month. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 3.5 million African-Americans living in New York and 1.3 million African-Americans living in New Jersey. Currently, NYBC donors are 71.5% White, 10% Hispanic/Latino, 6.6% Black/African American, and 4.7% Asian/Pacific Islander. Unfortunately, this does not mirror the diversity of our patient population.
Davina Daniels is one of many people who rely on regular blood transfusions of precisely matched blood from African-Americans to treat sickle cell disease. "Thank you for giving me another day to live my life, to be able to dream and have a chance to reach my goals while living those dreams," Davina said. "Most of all, I'm thankful for another day to be a loving mother to my son, a daughter to my parents, a sister, and a friend."
NYBC takes very seriously its responsibility to provide a safe, adequate, and reliable blood supply for the 20 million people in our service area. As individuals, we have always depended on having an adequate blood supply available when we need it, and it is imperative that we have an ample blood supply which closely reflects the diversity of our communities. Please donate blood today.
By donating blood during the month of February, organizations and individuals can help us maintain our community blood supply throughout the winter season.
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 winter holiday and summer periods. 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 age 76 and over 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 almost 200 hospitals, serving 20 million people, in greater New York since 1964. 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.
SOURCE New York Blood Center
RELATED LINKS
http://www.nybloodcenter.org
