By: Yuritza Arroyo
RWJBarnabas Health continues its urgent appeal for blood and platelet donations, especially Type O blood, this January during National Blood Donor Month in response to a severe blood and platelet shortage among hospitals throughout the state.
According to officials, the surge in respiratory illnesses and recent winter weather has exacerbated the already acute nationwide shortage, and blood suppliers need blood products to meet the demands this winter.
According to America’s Blood Centers, a blood transfusion occurs every two seconds in the United States.
Life-saving blood is given to patients in extensive and varied situations, as in cancer therapies, traumas such as motor-vehicle, industrial and home accidents, childbirth, open heart surgery, organ transplants, and mass casualty events.
Despite this, only three percent of Americans donate blood.
Blood drives across the RWJBarnabas Health system in late November and December yielded approximately 500 units of blood and 150 units of platelets.
All blood and platelet donations at an RWJBH blood drive or donor room stay within the system and directly impact local blood supply availability within a few days of being donated.
“This National Blood Donor Month, we’d like to thank our donors who have already selflessly rolled up their sleeves in response to the call for donations and our sponsors who make local blood drives possible.
Their support has already made a difference in the availability of Type O blood, the universal blood type, and platelets during this challenging time of year,” said Sally Wells, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Blood Services Business Development Liaison.
“We continue to urge New Jersey residents to donate blood and help us avoid disruptions to routine and emergency medical care.”
RWJBarnabas Health calls on blood donors of all types, especially Type O and platelet donors, to help bolster the blood supply.
Here’s how to donate:
Schedule an appointment at a fixed RWJBH Donor Room:
RWJBarnabas Health has two fixed locations, at RWJUH in New Brunswick (located on the 4th floor of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Clinical Academic Building (CAB) at 125 Paterson Street in New Brunswick) and at RWJUH Somerset (located at 110 Rehill Avenue in Somerville).
Both are open Monday-Friday and select Saturdays. For hours of operation and to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.rwjuhdonorclub.org.
Attend a local blood drive:
RWJBarnabas Health is hosting several blood drives across the state in January that include:
Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Blood Drive
Thursday, January 5, from 1:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Schulman Conference Center
600 River Avenue, Lakewood, NJ
Jersey City Medical Center Blood Drive
Wednesday, January 11, from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Ambulatory Care Center, 3rd Floor Conference Room
395 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ
Bradley Beach Community Blood Drive @ Bradley Beach Fire Dept.
Thursday, January 12, from 11:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Training Room
815 Main Street, Bradley Beach, NJ
South Plainfield Elks Blood Drive
Saturday, January 14, from 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Social Hall
1254 New Market Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ
Jersey Shore Blue Claws Blood Drive
Tuesday, January 17, from 11:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
RWJBarnabas Health Champions Club
2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, NJ
Rutgers Blood Drive
Thursday, January 19, from 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Rutgers Business Administration Building, Conference/Training Rooms, 135 A&B
33 Knightsbridge Road, Piscataway, NJ
Maternal Health Awareness Day Blood Drive @ Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Monday, January 23, from 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick, NJ
Trinitas Regional Medical Center Blood Drive
Tuesday, January 24, from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
1st Floor Café
225 Williamson Street, Elizabeth, NJ
Old Bridge Community Blood Drive
Wednesday, January 25, from 11:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
YMCA of Old Bridge
1 Mannio Park Drive, Old Bridge, NJ
New Brunswick Islamic Center Blood Drive
Saturday, January 28, from 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Gymnasium
1330 Livingston Ave., North Brunswick, NJ
Bell Works Blood Drive
Tuesday, January 31, from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Main Courtyard
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ