Give the Gift of Life By Donating Blood This Winter

Sally Wells, business outreach liaison for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Blood Donor Services

With the holidays long past and the shopping malls cleared out, it may seem like the season of gift giving is over. However, for patients in the hospital, the season is just beginning. Year round, children and adults undergoing medical treatment hope for a different type of gift, one that can’t be bought at a store. These patients, who may be undergoing chemotherapy, recovering from a traumatic event such as a severe burn or car accident or suffering from a chronic condition such as sickle cell anemia, depend on their healthy neighbors for lifesaving blood donations. Unfortunately, with a high demand (9 out of 10 people will require blood at least once in their life) and a small supply (only 3.6 percent of New Jersey residents regularly donate), hospitals often have to look out of state for supplies. Paired with a short shelf life of only 42 days, blood donations are in constant need both at home, and across the country. To help our friends and families in need, especially during the difficult winter months, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) encourages the community to donate blood during National Blood Donor Month this January and at the annual Tackle Sickle Cell Blood Drive this February.

During the winter, the need for blood is greater than ever. Just last week, the American Red Cross, which is responsible for roughly 40% of the nation’s blood supply, announced that their collections fell short over 37,000 units in November and December. Blood centers throughout New Jersey and the nation are appealing to individuals to get out and donate at their local hospital or blood drive. Throughout New Jersey and the country we are seeing major shortages. Donating blood is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make a difference in someone’s life. The entire process only takes about one hour from start to finish and will have you back to your daily routine immediately. Anyone over the age of 16 who is in good health can donate whole blood every 56 days. For those donating platelets, a component critical for patients undergoing cancer treatments and open heart surgery, donations can be given much more frequently.

Blood drives are held across the state, providing opportunities to donate at your local church, school or hospital, including the RWJUH blood donor centers in New Brunswick and Somerville. Before donating, be sure to familiarize yourself with the minimum requirements and special exceptions:

• Donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental permission
• Weigh at least 110 pounds (120 pounds for 16-year-olds)
• Present photo identification

You are not eligible to donate if:

• You have donated blood within the past 56 days.
• You are not feeling well and healthy.

• You have a history of viral hepatitis after age 11.
• You spent more than three months in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996.
• You vacationed in a malarial endemic country within the past 12 months.

If you are not eligible to donate, you can still make a difference by volunteering at a blood drive or at our local donor center making calls to people to schedule donations.

Throughout the year, RWJUH hosts blood drives across the region in honor of a patient or special cause. This February, RWJUH will be teaming up with the Embrace Kids Foundation, New York Blood Center and the NFL’s “McCourty Twins” Jason and Devin McCourty for the annual Tackle Sickle Cell Blood Drive. Benefiting patients of the inherited, yet serious blood condition sickle cell disease, the community is invited to donate blood on Saturday, February 18 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at RWJUH New Brunswick. Over 70,000 Americans live with sickle cell disease which causes essential oxygen-carrying red blood cells to distort and malfunction. With the natural flow of oxygen disrupted, those suffering from sickle cell disease often require regular blood transfusion throughout their life. By regularly donating blood, these patients will always have access to the lifesaving resources they need. For more information about the Tackle Sickle Cell campaign or to donate, please visit http://www.tacklesicklecell.org/events/ and click on 2017 Tackle Sickle Cell Blood Drive.

To make a lifesaving donation at any time of year, individuals are encouraged to make an appointment with RWJUH Blood Services. Donors can quickly and easily donate whole blood, platelets, plasma or red blood cells to help patients just a few doors away in the comfortable and convenient Blood Center located on the fourth floor of the Clinical Academic Building at 125 Paterson Street in New Brunswick or in the Blood Donor Room at RWJUH Somerset located at 1 Rehill Avenue in Somerville, N.J. Both locations are open five days a week with appointments available from 7:30 a.m. through 7 p.m. Saturday appointments are also available on alternate weeks. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are also welcomed. Individuals are encouraged to stop in and learn more about the blood donation process and requirements or to simply say thank you to the donors and medical staff diligently working to ensure blood will always be available when you or a loved one may need it. To learn how you can give the gift of life this winter at RWJUH New Brunswick, please call 732-235-8100, ext. 248. To make an appointment at RWJUH Somerset, please call 908- 685-2926. Appointments can also be made online at www.rwjuhdonorclub.org.