Blood Drive on Sept. 13 to Commemorate Volunteer Blood Donor Awareness Month in NJ
To commemorate Volunteer Blood Donor Awareness Month in New Jersey, Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo has teamed up with The Blood Center of New Jersey to organize an upcoming blood drive.
The blood drive will take place at Assemblyman DeAngelo’s Constituent Outreach Center from 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm, Thursday, September 13, 2012. The Center is located at The Shoppes at Nottingham Pointe, 4621A Nottingham Way, Hamilton, NJ 08691 where a “BloodMobile” will be located for the afternoon.
The assemblyman said that he hopes that the blood drive will make donation easier and more accessible for area residents who are able to donate blood but may not have the time to travel to another location during their normal weekday.
“While 37 percent of the American population is eligible to donate blood, less than three percent of the population donates annually in New Jersey. Whether it’s on your lunch break, after picking up your children from school, or on your way home after work, I encourage folks to come out and donate blood. Their one donation can save up to three lives,” said DeAngelo.
According to American’s Blood Centers, more than 4.5 million patients in the United States and Canada need blood transfusions each year.
“Our staff and health care professionals travel throughout New Jersey on almost a daily basis to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation. We hope to encourage donors in the Mercer and Middlesex County areas to come out for this blood drive and help save lives,” said Rita Polchin, director of blood donor/recruitment services for the Blood Center of New Jersey.
Individuals who would like to participate in the blood drive can contact Assemblyman DeAngelo’s office at (609) 631-7501 or AsmDeAngelo@njleg.org to schedule an appointment. Donors must be at least 120 pounds, in general good health, and at least 16 years old (with parental consent). There is no upper age limit for donors provided they meet health requirements Individuals may donate blood every eight weeks (56 days) as long as they meet other health requirements.
Donors should bring a signed or picture form of identification and know their Social Security number. Please eat a meal one hour before donating and drink plenty of water.
People with a fever or sore throat should wait until they are feeling better before donating, and there is a 24-hour deferral for teeth cleanings and fillings. For those who have recently traveled outside of the United States and for other eligibility questions, please call the blood center at 973-676-4700, ext. 132.
The Blood Center of New Jersey supplies over 100,000 blood products annually to the hospitals and medical centers of New Jersey. The vision of The Blood Center of New Jersey is to be a state-wide blood center providing blood, blood products and hemotherapy services in a coordinated effort with the integrate delivery system of healthcare providers in the state.
DeAngelo represents the 14th Legislative District which consists of Hamilton Township, East Windsor, Hightstown and Robbinsville in Mercer County and Monroe Township, Jamesburg, Spotswood, Plainsboro and Cranbury in Middlesex County.