Emergency Blood Drive in Centerport to Offer Donors Free Mets Tickets

An emergency blood drive will be held Thursday in Centerport following the declaration of a blood emergency in the Long Island region this summer.

There is currently less than a two day supply of blood available, according to Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer, M.D. The recommended blood supply, in comparison, is a seven to nine day inventory.

Spencer's office is working with Long Island Blood Services to host the drive at the Centerport Fire Department, located at 9 Park Circle, on Thursday, July 21 from 1-7 p.m.

In addition to helping out the blood supply shortage on Long Island, each donor will receive an electronic voucher which they can redeem online for a pair of tickets to a New York Mets game.

From Spencer’s office:

In just New York and New Jersey, 2,000 donations are needed every day to keep our hospitals sufficiently stocked. When blood is donated, it takes a minimum of 48 hours to reach a patient as it must be typed, separated, and tested before it can be released to hospitals. The universal blood type O negative, which is only 6% of the population, is greatly needed at this time as that blood can go to any patient.

Donation requirements:

• You can donate blood once every 56 days
• You must be between the ages of 16 and 75
• If you are 16, you will need parental consent
• If you are over the age of 75 you will need a doctor’s note
• You must weigh over 110 pounds and be in good health in order to give blood
• No tattoos in the last 12 months

If you have any questions or to schedule an appointment for the blood drive, contact Spencer’s office at 631-854-4500.