Donors Asked to Observe Patriot Day
By Making Lifesaving Blood Donations

September 11, 2014

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Community Blood Services invites its eligible volunteer donors to make a blood, platelet or plasma donation on Patriot Day, Thursday, September 11, which is observed annually in memory of all those who lost their lives or were injured during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

�Each year on Patriot Day, we remind our community members of the importance of always having a ready, adequate supply of blood on the shelves in the event of a catastrophe that potentially requires blood transfusions,� said Karen Ferriday, community affairs director at Community Blood Services.

Ferriday recalled the outpouring of community support at the blood center 13 years ago on 9-11 when word spread about the disastrous loss of lives after four planes were hijacked and nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the aftermath.

�Volunteer blood donors lined up into the evening hours by the thousands outside our Paramus Donor Center, offering to donate lifesaving blood and blood products and to volunteer in any way they could to help,� Ferriday recalled. �Our generous donors volunteered in many capacities following 9-11 � as volunteers at our mobile blood drives, in our donor canteen and as volunteer blood donors - and many are still helping us today.�

Donors can call toll free 866-228-1500 or 201-251-3703 for locations and hours of the Paramus or Montvale donation site or a mobile blood drive or click here. They can also call or click here to schedule an appointment. Community drives open to the public being held in conjunction with 9-11 include:

Fred Alger Management Corp will also hold its annual memorial drive for employees in memory of the hundreds that company lost on 9-11.

�Blood is always needed by patients in our community hospitals,� Ferriday said, noting the center needs about 250 donors each day to meet patients� needs at the more than 18 hospitals it serves in New Jersey and New York.

She said all blood types and blood products are currently needed to help rebuild the fragile summer blood supply, especially O negative, AB male plasma donors and platelets. Plasma is used to treat accident and trauma victims, while platelets are needed routinely to treat cancer and other seriously ill patients. In addition, Type O cmv negative donors are needed every day to treat babies in our area hospitals.

�You never know when someone you love might need blood - it could be a friend, a family member, or maybe even you,� Ferriday said, noting blood and platelets each have a limited shelf life so they must constantly be replenished. �By donating, you can make a real difference in someone�s life.�

Whole blood donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental permission) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors also receive complimentary non-fasting cholesterol and glucose screenings at the time of their donations.