Give Blood Oct. 24 At Clarkstown North High School

NEW CITY, NY — Officials say New York’s blood supply has never been lower, and are urgently calling for donors. In order to maintain a safe blood supply, a seven-day inventory of all blood types must be continually replenished. Right now, reserves are below that minimum.

To help ease the shortage, there will be a blood drive Thursday at Clarkstown North High School.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon, Oct. 24

WHERE: Clarkstown North High School, 151 Congers Road, New City

Rockland County Executive Ed Day, who has 11 a.m. to noon carved out Thursday to donate at the drive, said as a former police officer he cannot stress enough how much members of the community help everyone by giving blood.

The factors that have led to the current shortage:

• Decline in overall donor base
• Decline in first-time donors
• Decline in high school and college donors
• Increased demand

“New York’s blood supply has never been lower than it is right now. We’re in a very critical time as the donor base continues to decline yet patient need is constant,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Executive Director Donor Recruitment & Marketing at the New York Blood Center. “Blood is perishable so we need to constantly replenish the supply in order to treat trauma victims as well as people suffering from chronic conditions and those undergoing routine surgeries. We need to ensure a robust blood supply so we can always stay prepared and keep our city safe.”

It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can be used to save multiple lives.

Nearly 2,000 donations are needed each day in New York and New Jersey alone. About one in seven hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion, and with a limited shelf life, supplies must be continually replenished.

Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more. Donors with O-negative blood type, called “universal donors,” are especially encouraged to donate, as their blood can be used in emergencies.

Can't make it Thursday? The New York Blood Center has some upcoming drives.

• Archbishop Stepinac High School, 8:30 am - 1 pm, Thursday October 24, 950 Mamaroneck Ave., Rear Cafeteria, White Plains, NY 10601
• Monroe Volunteer Ambulance, 9:00 am - 03:00 pm, Saturday, October 26, 2019, 100 Ramapo Street, Ambulance Bays, Monroe, NY 10950
• Temple Israel Center, 8:00 am - 12:30 pm, Sunday, October 27, 2019, 280 Old Mamaroneck Avenue, Reception Hall 1, White Plains, NY 10605
• Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 09:00 am - 03:00 pm, Sunday, October 27, 2019, 8 Carman Road, Lower Church, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
• In Memory of Mindy Cohen, 2:00 pm - 10:30 pm, Monday, October 28, 2019, 1 Harriet Lane, Paul Kohn Simcha Room, Spring Valley, NY 10977

There are other upcoming opportunities through the Red Cross:

Orange County

• Port Jervis: 10/24/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Port Jervis Elks Lodge 645, 35 Route 6

Westchester County

• Eastchester: 10/24/2019: 2:30 - 7 p.m., Eastchester High School, 2 Stewart Place
• Elmsford: 10/22/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Alexander Hamilton High School, 98 South Goodwin Ave.
• Larchmont: 10/30/2019: 3 - 8 p.m., Larchmont Temple, 75 Larchmont Ave.
• North Salem: 10/29/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., North Salem High School, 230 June Road