There is currently a major blood shortage in America, with the New York Blood Center (NYBC) announcing on Aug. 2 that we are in a blood emergency. The NYBC will be partnering with NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi to help aid in the need for blood.
As COVID-19 cases spike and travel increase, the amount of donations blood centers are getting are lessening every day. Currently, the blood supply is at a 1-2-day level while the ideal is 5-7-days, but there is a way you can help with this emergency.
Tomorrow, Aug. 10, the NYBC and NYC Health will be running a blood drive at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, located at 1400 Pelham Parkway, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. The goal of the blood drive is to collect the hospital’s 5,000th donation, which will not only be a huge milestone for the clinic but a major aid to doctors in America as they perform life-saving blood transfusions.
NYC Health has been a partner of the NYBC for over 20 years and has been a huge help in aiding recent and past blood crises. NYC Health is one of the few organizations that came to the NYBC’s aid as many others were struggling themselves amidst a 2 year period of uncertainty. NYC Health actually helped increase the amount of donations over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The blood drive will be taking extra precautions to keep both doctors and participants safe. Anyone experiencing the feelings of a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms will not be able to donate. Masks are not required but heavily encouraged.
To see a list of frequently asked questions as well as donation eligibility guidelines, click here. It only takes an hour to donate and that donation can save lives.
