‘Vulnerable’ Blood Supply In South Jersey Needs Replenished, Red Cross Says

MT. LAUREL — Organizers of two upcoming blood drives at Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) hope the events will replenish the low amount of blood and plasma supplies that currently exist, an American Red Cross spokesperson said.

“Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood – a patient battling cancer, a car accident victim or a parent experiencing a difficult childbirth,” Diane Concannon, the Communications Coordinator for the American Red Cross’s New Jersey Region, told Patch.

However, the number of blood and plasma donations and drives to gather such life-saving supplies nosedived during the pandemic and has not completely returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to centraljersey.com.

Therefore, “the American Red Cross blood supply remains vulnerable,” Concannon said.

To help fill the void in blood and plasma supplies, RCBC will host drives this Tuesday, March 22, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Thursday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both events will occur in Room 320 in Laurel Hall at RCBC’s Mt. Laurel Campus, according to the American Red Cross. Donors are asked to make an appointment for these events or for a day and time that is convenient for them by clicking here.

“Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows a high level of safety and infection control and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance,” Concannon said.

All those who give blood or plasma at either of the March 22 and March 31 RCBC events will receive a $10 e-gift card from Fanatics, according to RCBC’s website. These donors will also be entered into a drawing to win a trip to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles, round-trip airfare and 4 nights of hotel accommodations, the website also said.

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