One person’s blood donation can help save the lives of three people – imagine what several hundred can do.
The American Red Cross has put out an emergency need for blood donations in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey region, and across the country, as it’s experiencing a shortage.
“Right now, we are on a less than three-days supply [of blood] and we’re seeking all blood types in all blood drives,” said Mary DePasquale, donor recruitment of the Penn-Jersey Red Cross. “We are on a two-day supply for our O blood types [so] we are seeking the O-negatives. We stride to keep a five-day supply of all on a given day.”
The Red Cross, she said, issued an emergency appeal nationwide for eligible blood donors on July 9, which she added is common in the summer. She said the Red Cross had 24,000 fewer donations after a plea was made in June compared to last year.
“The number of people who have donated has decreased over time and it’s a very important thing people don’t think about,” she added.Â
Thus, the Red Cross is holding four blood drives in Sewell (Mantua and Washington townships). Drives are on the following dates:
- July 25 at Delaware Valley Floral Group (520 N. Mantua Blvd., Sewell) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- July 26 at Dunkin’ (660 Woodbury-Glassboro Road, Sewell) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- July 26 at the Gloucester County Chapter of the Red Cross (3 Parke Place Blvd., Sewell) from 2 p.m to 7 p.m.
- July 29 at the Washington Township Municipal Building (523 Egg Harbor Road, Sewell) from 1:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m.
DePasquale said it is highly recommended for donors to pre-register for the blood drives online at RedCrossBlood.org so they’re guaranteed a spot. Walk-ins are welcome.
“[The Dunkin’ location is] our kick-off to our Dunkin’ and Red Cross partnership for the month of August, and they’ll receive a coupon for a free medium iced coffee and a donut,” said DePasquale.
For the other donation sites, she added donors are instructed to go to the canteen area where they’re provided with water, juice, cookies and a snack to replenish their fluids.
Only those who are 16 years old and up are allowed to donate, she said. Sixteen year olds must have a parent with them to provide consent.
People who are unsure of their eligibility can check it online when they pre-register.
For those on the edge about donating, DePasquale said the actual donation takes, at most, 10 minutes to do and it “feels like a pinch on your arm.” The period of going from the on-site questionnaire to the canteen takes an hour.
Following each donation, DePasquale said donors are given a pamphlet that states what they should and shouldn’t do after giving blood such as exercise and to drink plenty of water.
On average, each blood drive in the region gets 18 to 20 people, depending on the type of blood.
“Every two seconds, someone in the country needs a transfusion, and three out of 100 people donate and it’s not enough,” DePasquale said.Â
To sign up for future blood drives, either download the Red Cross’s blood donation app, or visit www.RedCrossBlood.org. Those wishing to volunteer for the drives, or looking to host one, can do so by contacting either the Pennsauken location at (856) 365-7100, or the Gloucester County office at (856) 256-8300.
“I think it’s a good thing to do that’s a selfless thing to do,” she added about donating. “It doesn’t take much. It takes only an hour of your time and can save three lives.”
