Halesite FD Blood Drive

Dear Neighbors,

Although blood is essential every day, donations tend to drop significantly during the summer months as people go on vacation. Also, donations from high schools and colleges, which account for 25% of regional blood collection, decrease when schools close for the summer. This year especially, donations are needed. Hurricane Sandy forced the Red Cross to cancel more than 370 blood drives in 13 states, resulting in a loss of more than 12,500 pints of blood; a loss that has yet to be fully recouped. The Halesite Fire Department hosts two blood drives every year, one in January and one in August. Our summer blood drive will be Friday August 23rd from 3:30-8:00 pm at our firehouse located at 1 North New York Ave. In addition to the juice and cookies provided by the NY Blood center, our volunteer firefighters will be cooking up steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs to provide a delicious dinner for all those who come down; even if you can’t give blood!

You might think; why should I donate? There is no substitute for human blood. From organ transplants to heart surgeries, today’s advanced medical care relies on blood transfusions. When one person donates a unit of blood, it can be separated into individual components to save multiple lives. Blood donors like you help meet the daily transfusion needs of cancer and surgery patients, accident and burn victims, newborns and mothers delivering babies, AIDS and sickle cell anemia patients, and many more. Our area faces a high demand for blood. Close to 2,000 donations are needed each day in the New York/New Jersey community for patients who require a lifesaving blood and/or platelet transfusion. And don’t worry; you have plenty of blood to spare. Most adults have between 8 to 12 pints of blood and can easily spare 1 pint which is all that is taken during blood donations.

All donors must be 17 years of age or older (or 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be feeling “in good health” on the day of donation. You must have your photo ID on you, and be prepared to spend about 30-45 minutes in the donation process; but don’t forget to make time for some BBQ afterwards!

If you can’t make it to our blood drive, but still want to donate, be sure to check out the NY Blood Services website (http://nybloodcenter.org/donate-blood/where-to-donate-today/) they have a daily list of blood drives in various local areas.

I hope to see you there!
Dan McConnell
Chief of the Halesite Fire Department