This week Williston Park Fire Department hosted a blood drive after snowstorms caused New York’s blood supply to drop earlier in the month.
New York Blood Center is putting out the call for blood donors following the winter storm. Because of the blizzard, 1,500 fewer blood donations were made, all community blood drives were canceled, and donor centers had to be closed early. NYBC needs New Yorkers to come in and donate to rebuild the blood supply.
“While we are in a blood emergency because of this record-breaking winter storm, the winter along with COVID-19 has made it increasingly harder to get New Yorkers in to donate blood,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Executive Director at New York Blood Center. “We need everyone who is healthy and able to sign up for an appointment and help to save a life at this critical time.”
Since the onset of the pandemic, New York has suffered from a chronic deficit in blood donations as nearly all high schools, colleges, offices, and other community groups have canceled their blood drives or are not hosting as many as pre-pandemic. This winter has made it even more difficult as cold temperatures and snow keep folks indoors.
From Feb. 1 to 28, New York Blood Center is giving blood donors the chance to get free antibody testing at any of NYBC’s 18 fixed donor centers and all mobile drives in New York and New Jersey.
NYCB is taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection, or flu-like symptoms. Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions are available here.
Donations are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 1-800-933-2566 or visiting nybc.org.
-New York Blood Center
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