Searching for Type-O blood at Newton Hospital

NEWTON - Summer vacations aren’t the best times for blood centers, according to the people at New Jersey Blood Services. Normally, the blood center operates with a three- to five-day supply of blood, but that often drops in the summer, which is a reason Newton Memorial Hospital is holding a blood drive Friday, June 22. Each unit of donated blood helps the hospital and improves statewide and national blood bank shortages. Only about 2 percent of the general population in northwest New Jersey gives blood, according to Marie Forrestal, manager of Donor Recruitment and Retention at New Jersey Blood Services. “That is part of the reason the state is not self-sufficient,” Forrestal added. “Last year, 74,000 units of blood had to be imported to meet patient needs.” Another reason for the drive is that for every unit of Type-O blood collected, the hospital will earn a Blood Bank Credit with New Jersey Blood Services. The hospital can use those credits toward replenishing its blood supply, for patients who need blood transfusions. People of any blood type are welcome to donate at the June 22 event, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. But Newton Memorial is placing a particular emphasis on those with Type O blood in order to receive the credits and, in turn, increase its available blood supply. Robert L Jones, MD - New York Blood Center president and chief executive officer said: “There is no substitute for human blood and our region’s only source is volunteer blood donors.” New Jersey Blood Services, based in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, provides blood to 60 hospitals throughout the state. “Specifically, we need to collect about 250 to 300 units of blood each day to meet the needs of New Jersey patients,” Forrestal said. “Last year, we collected about 60,000 units of blood which, after it was separated into plasma, platelets and red cells helped about 180,000 people.” Nationally, there is a tremendous need for blood. It is estimated that in the U.S., every three seconds a patient needs blood for procedures ranging from emergencies to elective surgeries to cancer treatments. While ongoing advances in surgical and chemotherapy treatments allow us to lead longer, healthier lives, many of the treatments require blood transfusions. Transfusions of red blood cells, platelets and plasma are critical to a patient’s return to good health. There are 13 million units of blood transfused every year in the United States and the average patient who receives a transfusion uses four units of blood. It is estimated that 85 percent of us will need a transfusion by the time we reach age 75. Please call Newton Memorial Hospital’s Employee Health Office at (973) 579-8505 to register to give blood.