25th Annual Putnam Firefighters, Police Blood Drive Is Friday

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Help support the Putnam County Firefighters and Fraternal Order of Police as they co-host their end-of-year blood drive on Friday with the New York Blood Center.

The first time was in 1997. Since then, the three have hosted a blood drive twice a year — on 4th of July weekend and at the end of December. The event brings in loyal blood donors who return year after year, many of whom know NYBC staff by name, officials said.

July and December are always critical times for the blood supply, as donations are low due to travel and holiday vacations, NYBC officials said.

The region's blood shortage is chronic.

Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. 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.

It only takes an hour, and a single donation can save up to three lives.

• WHEN: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30
• WHERE: Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 32 Gleneida Ave, Carmel, NY 10512
• WHO: Blood donors, volunteers and New York Blood Center representatives

Information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions is available here.

"We are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms," NYBC officials said.

To make an appointment at this blood drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit this link.

NYBC encourages all who are eligible in the community to donate blood and save a life

Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.