Community Corner
Blood Drive a Success, Despite Some Deferrals
Every bit helps especially at this time of year, as donations drop typically in the summer months.
Point Pleasant Borough Councilman Christopher B. Leitner is a regular blood donor. But he struck out this week at the New Jersey Blood Services drive, held at Hoffman's Ice Cream on Richmond Avenue.
"I couldn't donate because I went to Costa Rica this year," he said, after deboarding the bright red bloodmobile parked outside of Hoffman's this week.
Leitner, and a few others - including some Jersey Shore Patch editors (and this writer) - who tried to donate got turned down for various reasons, ranging from travel abroad, to recent illness. (This writer happened to have a highly-annoying summer cold that knocked me out of the running, but fortunately, our Regional Editor, Tom Davis, made the cut).
Difficulties with donors is part of the reason for blood shortages, according to Harvey Schaffler, who is executive director of marketing, for New York Blood Center.
Common reasons for deferrals, according to the Blood Center's website, include:
Low hemoglobin / hematocrit
Cold, flu or other illness symptoms
Temporary deferrals (some medications)
Permanent deferrals (some medical conditions)
Fortunately, Schaffler said, there are other things people who have been deferred can do, including sending emails requesting friends and family to donate, raising funds or coordinating the next blood drive, and, as is the case with some of the editors this week, scheduling their next appointment for a donation.
Every bit helps, Schaffler said, especially at this time of year, as donations typically drop in the summer months. Students are out of school and people go on vacations, sometimes depleting the donor pool during the warmer months.
Davis said he was happy he was able to donate, particularly to the New Jersey Blood Services, which did much for the community when Hurricane Sandy hit last year and depleted its blood supply.
Although he had not donated in a few years, Davis said he was encouraged to come out and participate as part of a nationwide Give 5 effort that had Patch editors giving back to the communities they cover. For Davis, it was also an opportunity to give back to an organization that "gave so much in the weeks after Sandy."
The New York Blood Center struggled to remain open after Hurricane Sandy damaged its New York City offices. The organization, however, still led a blood drive to replenish the depleted local blood supply - nearly 12,000 units worth - after the storm.
Representatives of Hoffman's, which has hosted the blood drive for four years, noted there is a growing need for donations because of the recent heat wave.
"People really love it, and we're getting more of a turnout every year," said Kim Karkovice, general manager of Hoffman.
To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, call 1-800-933-2566. Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org.
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