Zove Encourages Suffolk County Residents to Donate Blood

LongIsland.com

Blood shortage resulted from harsh winter conditions.

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Melville, NY - April 28, 2014 - New York State’s 8th Assembly District candidate Jason Zove is asking Suffolk County residents to participate in a local blood drive or donate blood and/or platelets at their earliest convenience due to a shortage of this vital resource.
 
“We are facing a shortage of blood supply in Suffolk County because of the rough winter we just experienced and the high number of blood drives that were cancelled as a result,” said Zove. “I am asking Suffolk County residents to please consider donating blood and/or platelets so we can save the lives of our friends and neighbors who rely on blood transfusions to survive.”
 
According to the New York Blood Center website, 4.5 million Americans receive blood transfusions each year. Furthermore, blood products are perishable; donated red cells last only 42 days, platelets last only five days, and plasma can be frozen for a year.
 
“By donating blood you will be saving the lives of cancer patients, transplant and surgery patients, victims of trauma, newborn babies and their mothers, and other people who are in need,” said Zove.
 
The New York Blood Center has three locations in Suffolk County where you can go and donate blood and/or platelets:
 
3125 Veterans Highway, Ronkonkoma, New York 11779
Open Tuesday-Saturday and the 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month; Closed Monday
 
905 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747
Closed Thursday
 
1010 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station, New York 11776
Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
 
Please visit the website for New York Blood Center at nybloodcenter.org or call 1-800-933-2566 for more information or to schedule a donation appointment.
 
The St. Johnland Nursing Center is hosting a blood drive on Monday, May 5, 9:30am-3:30pm, at their location, 395 Sunken Meadow Road, in Kings Park. Call Cheryl Connelly at 631-663-2461 for more information.
 
The Knights of Columbus Lodge Council 3958 is hosting a blood drive on Monday, May 19, 12:00pm-6:30pm at 130 Lake Avenue South, Nesconset, to help those with Cooley’s Anemia, which is a genetic blood disorder in which the lack of beta protein in the hemoglobin causes a life-threatening anemia that requires regular blood transfusions and extensive ongoing medical care. Please call 631-724-1381 for more information.
 
“It’s not often that we have the opportunity to directly save people’s lives, and I want to thank the St. Johnland Nursing Center, the Knights of Columbus and all community groups that choose to champion blood drives,” said Zove.