The Town of Oyster Bay will be holding a blood drive on Thursday, April 14, to help hospitals meet the ongoing need for blood
donations.
“Long Island Blood Services cannot meet its vital, life-saving mission without the efforts of the Town’s Blood Drive and it’s volunteers,” said Oyster Bay Town councilman Joe Muscarella. “We strongly encourage all those eligible to participate.”
“This constant state of urgency is why people should always donate whenever they can,” said Town Supervisor John Venditto. “Donating is not only quick and easy but it is an entirely safe process. All materials used during the process are sterile, disposable and used only once…by you. There is no danger of contracting any disease, including AIDS. The pint of blood you donate will never be missed by your body, which manufactures an equivalent amount in 24 hours. When broken down into component parts, one single pint of blood can be used to heal and help the bodies of three different people.”
The locations for the blood drives is at Town Hall South Conference Room, 977 Hicksville Rd., Massapequa (9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). In order to qualify as a blood donor, a person must between the ages of 17 and 75 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days. Anyone who has received a tattoo within the past twelve months is ineligible to apply. It is recommended that volunteers eat well (low fat) and drink fluids in the days before the Blood Drive. All blood types are needed, especially O positive and O negative.
Refreshments will be provided for all who donate. In addition, each time someone makes a donation, they earn advantage points redeemable for a wide variety of gifts, gift cards, or other merchandise. For questions concerning medical eligibility call 1-800-688-0900 or visit www.nybc.org. Those wishing to sign up to donate, or in need of additional information, can call councilman Muscarella’s office at 1-516-624-6304 or visit the town’s website at www.oysterbaytown.com.
—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay
