NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - The COVID-19 pandemic has created critically low blood supplies at New Jersey hospitals, so officials at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Blood Services are urging residents to donate blood or other blood products such as platelets and plasma.
With blood collections across the tri-state area down 40% from last year, all types of blood are needed, according to hospital officials. However, Type O blood is particularly in short supply.
Access to blood for transfusion is critical to hospitals’ ability to treat urgent and planned surgical procedures and chronic illnesses.
Typically, RWJUH Blood Services would conduct several blood drives in the fall at high schools and colleges to offset blood shortages that occur during winter months. The current pandemic has severely limited the number of drives scheduled this year.
“The lack of high school- and college-sponsored blood drives this autumn has all but crippled our ability to reach a young, enthusiastic donor pool,” said Grace Tenorio, MD, Medical Director of the RWJUH Blood Center. “Not being able to host these drives has resulted in a significant drop in blood unit collections since September.”
Many organizations continue to have their staff work from home, limiting the number of businesses and community-based organizations that can sponsor blood drives.
RWJUH’s Blood Donor Center is located on the fourth floor of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Clinical Academic Building (CAB) at 125 Paterson St. in New Brunswick. The center can be accessed without entering the hospital. Blood Services is open Monday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment.
Please call 732-235-8100, ext. 221, ext. 222, or ext. 248 or go online to www.rwjuhdonorclub.org to schedule an appointment to donate. If your organization would like to host a blood drive, please contact Sally Wells at 732-558-4983 or sally.wells@rwjbh.org.
RWJUH’s Donor Center has rigorous safety protocols are in place to protect all donors. These include temperature checks, required face coverings, and socially distanced seating in waiting areas and donation spaces. Strict sanitary protocols are in place, including the disinfection of donor areas after each use. Everyone in the center must wear face masks.
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November 04, 2020 at 09:16PM
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RWJUH Blood Services in Urgent Need of Blood, Blood Product Donations - TAPinto.net
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