Help Rebuild the Blood Supply During the �Dog Days of Summer�
Donors to Get Complimentary T-shirts

August 16, 17 & 18, 2011

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Community Blood Services invites donors to participate in their "Dog Days of Summer" campaign being held at their New Jersey and New York donor centers to help replenish the blood supply during the ongoing summer shortage.

The �Dog Days of Summer� campaign will run Tuesday, August 16 through Thursday, August 18. All donors will receive a complimentary, specially designed �Dog Days� T-shirt when they donate at the Paramus and Lincoln Park donor centers in New Jersey or the New Windsor Donor Center in New York.

In addition, donors who donate in Paramus on those days will be able to eat hot dogs afterwards from Community Blood Service�s hot dog cart.

�Summer is one of the toughest times to bring in blood donors because people are more focused on vacations and relaxing,� said Karen Ferriday, community affairs director at Community Blood Services. �The �Dog Days of Summer� promotion is a fun way to get donors involved in replenishing the current blood shortage.�

The blood center has had less than a day�s supply of blood on its shelves in recent days. All blood types are needed, particularly O negative, as well as AB male plasma donations to treat trauma victims and platelets to treat cancer and other critically ill patients. Ferriday said. At least 250 volunteer donations are needed each day to meet the needs of patients in community hospitals.

In New Jersey, donors can donate at the Paramus donor center, 970 Linwood Avenue West, on Tuesday, August 16th and Thursday, August 18th from 12 noon to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 17th from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. Or they can donate at the Lincoln Park donor center, 63 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 304 , on Tuesday, August 16th and Wednesday, August 17th from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Donors in New York can donate at the New Windsor donor center, 575 Hudson Valley Avenue, Suite 206 , on Tuesday, August 16th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, August 17th from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

To make an appointment, click here or call 866-228-1500. Walk-ins are welcome but an appointment is suggested to donate whole blood. Appointments are needed to donate platelets, which can only be collected at the New Jersey donor centers.

Whole blood donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with Parental Consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. All donors will receive a complimentary mini-physical, including non-fasting cholesterol and glucose screenings and blood pressure.