Help Build the July Fourth Blood Supply,
Get a ShopRite Gift Card!

July 2 and 3, 2013

�

Community Blood Services urgently needs blood donors of all types to schedule their next lifesaving donations at one of its New Jersey donor centers to help build up the blood supply around the July Fourth holiday.

The need for platelet donors is particularly critical on July 2 and 3 to ensure there are enough available to meet the needs of patients throughout the holiday. At least 50 platelets must be collected each day to meet those needs.

Anyone donating blood, plasma or platelets on Tuesday, July 2 or Wednesday, July 3 at the Paramus or Lincoln Park donor centers in New Jersey will receive a complimentary ShopRite gift card as a thank you for their lifesaving donations.

Donors can donate at the Paramus center, 970 Linwood Avenue West, on Monday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Or they can donate at Lincoln Park, 63 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 304, from noon to 7:30 p.m.

�The need for blood and blood products is critical during the summer months, especially around the July Fourth holiday,� said Karen Ferriday, community affairs director at Community Blood Services. �High school blood drives, which account for close to 10% of the blood collected during the school year, have ended for the summer. Participation at corporate blood drives also declines because employees are on vacation. In addition, volunteer donors who normally donate at our donor centers don�t show up as frequently because of their busy summer schedules and vacations.�

Call 201-251-3703 or click here to make an appointment to donate. Walk-ins are also welcome but an appointment is needed to donate platelets.

In addition to the platelets needed, Ferriday said Community Blood Services must collect at least 250 pints of blood each day to meet patient needs at the more than 18 hospitals in New Jersey and New York State supplied by the not-for-profit organization. She noted there has been a critical, ongoing need for Type O negative blood, which can be transfused to any patient regardless of their blood type, and AB male plasma, used to treat trauma and burn victims.

Whole blood donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors also receive complimentary non-fasting cholesterol and glucose health screenings.