New Jersey Blood Services executive director urges donations

As executive director of New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), I urge everyone who is eligible to give blood to please do so. If you have donated or attempted to donate in the past, I thank you. If you have not, I urge you to try. Because of the Sept. 11 tragedy, we had thousands of people who wanted to donate. We curtailed those donations and asked donors to delay their donations. We did this because blood is a precious and perishable community resource with only a 42-day shelf life. Our goal was to manage our inventory to avoid discarding unused blood.

The 42-day shelf life of the blood donated for the World Trade Center crisis is well passed. Our inventory levels are now dangerously low. Traditionally, during the winter months, our inventory levels decrease severely. Now, during this time of uncertainty, it is especially important we maintain at least a five-day supply of blood at all times. We must be prepared should another tragedy occur.

The need for blood is an ongoing, ever-present reality. The World Trade Center crisis placed a major focus on that need. Thousands of people across America responded. We hope this spirit and dedication will become a long-term commitment and donating blood will once again become part of the "fabric" of America. Blood is needed every minute of every day.

By giving blood, the patients that need blood in the coming weeks will be able to get a life-saving transfusion. Deciding to further postpone a blood donations puts these patients at risk.

Once again, thank you for your past and future support of the NJBS blood program. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at jgiandelone@ccmail.org.

John A. Giandelone

New Jersey Blood Services

New Brunswick