LongIsland.com

Community Support Needed for Lifesaving Blood Drive

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  13. February 2014

West Islip, NY - February 13, 2014 - With the 15th snowstorm of the 2013-2014 winter season pummeling the New York area blood supplies due to blood drive cancellations, Good Samaritan Hospital is urgently asking donors to roll up their sleeves to replenish our community blood and platelet supply.

New York Blood Center requires more than 2,000 volunteer blood donations each day to meet the transfusion needs of patients in close to 200 regional hospitals. Each donation of blood can help save up to three lives.

Please consider donating the gift of life today on Monday, February 24, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Registration will be held the day of the event in Good Samaritan Hospital’s Patio Cafe, located at 1000 Montauk Highway, West Islip. In addition, New York Blood Center mobile unit will be available in the main, front parking lot for the convenience of donors. Each time you save lives by making a blood, platelet or plasma donation you earn Advantage points redeemable for a wide variety of gifts, gift cards or New York Blood Center branded merchandise. You can even donate your points to selected charitable organizations. For more information visit www.mydonoradvantage.com or call 1-800-933-2566.

Nearly everyone between the ages of 17 (16 with parents' written permission) and 75 meet all donor eligibility requirements. Donors must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. Each participant should bring valid identification.

Sixty percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood, but, unfortunately on average only five percent of Americans do so. Blood products are perishable and need to be replenished often. People can safely donate blood every 8 weeks. Good Samaritan Hospital hosts several blood drives each year, providing donors with multiple opportunities to help save a life.  

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (631) 376-4444.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip.  The medical center, which has more than 3,500 employees and 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 28,000 patient admissions and nearly 100,000 emergency department visits in 2012.  Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health.  This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

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