New York Blood Center, Daily News Team Up to Build Blood Supply; New Daily News Feature Gives Readers Information on State of NY Metro Area’s Blood Supply

NEW YORK, July 29 -- The NY Daily News has pitched its hat into the campaign to increase the city’s blood supply during difficult times. Every Monday until the end of August, The Daily News will post a blood drop graphic showing the level of the city’s blood supply on that day, as well as inform potential donors of the level of need for blood donations. The new initiative is being done in the hope of encouraging residents to donate blood during the summer, which is typically an extremely difficult time to recruit donors. The city’s blood supply is currently at a three-day level, two days shy of the five-day supply New York Blood Center (NYBC) and hospitals prefer to have available.

Robert L. Jones, MD, New York Blood Center President and CEO stated, “New York Blood Center acts as a pipeline between blood donor and patient. However, due to the constant need for blood and its perishable nature, this pipeline needs to constantly be filled and refilled. We are thrilled that The Daily News has pitched in their help with this important community health issue.”

During the summer months and the holiday season the need for blood, given elective surgeries, vacation and other factors, is higher than normal, while recruiting donors is particularly difficult. Both New York Blood Center and The Daily News hope that this new vehicle will prove an effective means to inspire New York and New Jersey residents to give blood and fill the gap between what is needed and what is available. Donors can call 1- 800-933-BLOOD (1-800-933-2566) to schedule an appointment or visit the website for blood drive locations at http://www.nybloodcenter.org

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New York Blood Center (NYBC), one of the nation’s largest non- profit, community-based blood centers, has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to patients in New York and New Jersey hospitals since 1964. NYBC is also home to the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, the National Cord Blood Program and the Milstein National Cord Blood Center, the world’s first and largest public cord blood bank. NYBC provides medical services and programs (Clinical, Transfusion and Hemophilia Services) through our medical professionals and transfusion medicine physicians.

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