Help Save Lives in Your Community
During National Blood Donor Month!

January 2013

�

Community Blood Services extends a sincere thank you to its many blood, plasma and platelet donors for their ongoing lifesaving donations during 2012 and invites those donors who are eligible in January 2013 to help celebrate National Blood Donor Month by making their next donation.

�We want to thank our volunteer donors during National Blood Donor Month for their ongoing donations and remind them how important they are to the patients whose lives they help to save in our community hospitals,� said Ferriday, noting this year�s theme is �Listen to Your Heart � Donate Blood!�

Ferriday said there is a critical need for blood and platelets following the holiday season when the blood supply traditionally dips. �It�s important that we continue to build our supply in case illness and inclement weather during the winter months keeps donors away or result in canceled blood drives.� She asked that donors consider increasing their commitment by donating an additional time during 2013.

Donors can call 866-228-1500 or click here to make an appointment to donate or click here to find a convenient donor collection site or mobile blood drive in New Jersey or in New York State. Whole blood donors also can walk in to any donor center but appointments are needed to donate platelets.

In celebration of Blood Donor Month, L.A. singer/songwriter Jenni Alpert has teamed up with blood centers around the country, including Community Blood Services, to offer a free download of her hit song �Listen to Your Heart.� Click here to download.

Donors also will be entered into a weekly raffle for �Witherspoon the Bear,� who can be seen on the website, and his gift card basket.

All blood types are needed to meet the needs of patients in the more than 15 hospitals Community Blood Services serves in New Jersey and New York, especially O negative. O negative, the universal blood type, can be transfused to all patients. Platelets are also needed to treat patients diagnosed with cancer or other blood disorders and male plasma is needed for trauma victims.

Donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. All donors will receive health screenings with their donations, including non-fasting glucose and cholesterol screenings.