Severe Blood Donor Shortage Expected This Winter In NJ, Hospital Warns

WEST ORANGE, NJ — One of the largest health care systems in New Jersey has issued an “urgent plea” for blood donors ahead of what’s expected to be a severe statewide shortage this winter.

On Monday, RWJBarnabas Health put out a call for blood and platelet donations in an attempt to get a jump on the situation.

According to hospital administrators, the shortage was initially driven by a surge in COVID HV. 1 cases. It is expected to get worse due to an annual decrease in donations during the winter.

An estimated 60 percent of New Jersey residents are eligible to donate blood, yet only 3.6 percent donate on a routine basis.

“Throughout the winter months, as people are busy holiday shopping, prepping and seeing family, donating blood often falls off of people’s to-do lists,” said Sally Wells, blood services business development liaison at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

“Although blood donation drops in winter months, the need for blood does not stop,” Wells said. “One pint of blood can help save up to three lives. Donating blood this holiday season can be the gift of life for those in need.”

RWJBarnabas Health is calling on blood donors of all types – especially Type O and platelet donors – to help bolster the blood supply. All blood and platelet donations at RWJBarnabas Health blood drives or donor rooms stay within the system and impact local blood supply availability within a few days of being donated, administrators said.

Want to give for the holidays? RWJBarnabas Health is hosting several blood drives across the state throughout December and January (see the list below).

To schedule an appointment at a fixed RWJBarnabas Health Donor Room, call 732-235-8100 ext. 221. Fixed donor locations are located 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. Both are open Monday-Friday and select Saturdays. For hours of operation and to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.rwjuhdonorclub.org.

Free parking is available for all blood donors. Donors must be 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds (120 pounds if 16 years old), and present photo identification. If the donor has a history of viral hepatitis at age 11 or older or is recovering from an infectious illness, they are ineligible to donate. Under the FDA guidelines, all potential donors, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender, or sex, will undergo screening using a modified questionnaire that assesses the risk of HIV based on individual sexual behavior, recent partners, and other relevant factors. For more information on the new guidelines and IDA questionnaire, visit https://www.rwjbh.org/treatment-care/blood-donation.

Somerset County Law Enforcement Blood Drive - Sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office

• Tuesday, December 12 at 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Steeplechase Cancer Center - Floor 1
• 30 Rehill Ave, Somerville, NJ

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center - Employee and Community Blood Drive

• Tuesday, December 12 at 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
• Islami Conference Center
• 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ

Monmouth Medical Center

• Friday, December 15 at 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Unterberg Learning Center
• 300 2nd Avenue, Long Branch, NJ

South Plainfield Community

• Saturday, December 16 at 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• JFK Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room
• 2900 Norwood Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Annual Gift of Life Blood Drive

• Monday, December 18 at 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard
• 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick, NJ

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Community Blood Drive

• Thursday, December 28 at 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
• Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard
• 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Community Blood Drive Sponsored by Bikur Cholim, The Lakewood Scoop & RWJBH

• Wednesday, January 3 at 1:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Conference Center
• 600 River Avenue, Lakewood, NJ

Jersey Shore Blue Claws

• Monday, January 8 at 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• RWJBarnabas Health Champions Club, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, NJ

Saint Peter's University Hospital

• Tuesday, January 9 at 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• Sister Maria DiPazzi Conference Center
• 254 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ

Jersey City Medical Center

• Thursday, January 11 at 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Conference Room 5, main floor
• 355 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ

Community Medical Center

• Tuesday, January 16 at 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• Auditoriums A & B
• 99 Hwy, 37 West, Toms River, NJ

New Brunswick Islamic Center - Gymnasium

• Saturday, January 20 at 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• 1330 Livingston Ave, North Brunswick Township, NJ

First Baptist Church of Keyport

• Wednesday, January 24 at 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• 45 Main St, Keyport, NJ 07735

Robert Wood Johnson Rutgers Medical School

• Tuesday, January 30 at 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• The Great Hall
• 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ

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