Senator Murphy, New Castle Sponsor Blood Drive To Ease Summer Shortage In Blood Donations

New Castle, NY- While the need for blood is constant during the summer months, the long school vacation period and the number of carefree holidays often make it difficult to maintain ample blood inventories. To help alleviate the shortage, Senator Terrence Murphy and the Town of New Castle sponsored a community blood drive. The donations will be used to replenish the New York Blood Center's blood supply.
 
"Someone in the U.S needs blood every two seconds. If it's not available when the need arises, the consequences can be fatal," said Senator Murphy. "Blood shortages are more common during the summertime because there aren't enough donations to keep up with the demand. Today's drive was particularly important; we got a donation from a woman with a specific rare antigen that can help premature babies. We're grateful to the Town of New Castle and its residents for coming out and answering the call to help those in need."
 
Andrea H. Cefarelli, Executive Director Donor Recruitment, New York Blood Center stated, "As we approach back to school and enjoy the last few weeks of August, we're hoping that blood donors find the time to donate. This is prime time for family vacations and with the Labor Day holiday around the corner, blood donations can decline. The need for blood never takes a holiday!"
 
Blood donation is a simple, four-step process involving registration, a review of the donor's medical history, a mini-physical, and the donation itself, followed by refreshments. There are four types of products that can be derived from blood: red cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate. Typically, two or three of these are produced from a pint of donated blood, meaning each donation can help save more than one life.
 
Founded in 1964, The New York Blood Center serves 20 million people in the greater New York area through partnerships with more than 200 hospitals in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut.