University Hospital Blood Drive Saves Lives
Employees, physicians and community members come together to strengthen the regional blood supply
University Hospital employees, physicians and community members came together in August to give the gift of life during a blood drive held in partnership with the New York Blood Center (NYBC).
Thanks to the generosity of donors, the blood drive collected 74 pints of blood – including 63 whole blood donations, 10 double red blood cell donations and one plasma donation. Each donation represents an opportunity to help patients who may need blood as part of emergency care, surgery, cancer treatment, trauma care and other lifesaving medical treatments.
“As a Level I Trauma Center, we see firsthand how critical blood is for patients experiencing life-threatening bleeding,” said Jason Brady, Executive Director of Emergency Medical Services at University Hospital. “Maintaining an adequate blood supply is essential to providing timely, lifesaving care, both in the hospital and through our growing prehospital blood program. This blood drive is an important way our staff and community can help ensure blood is available when patients need it most.”
“Maintaining an adequate blood supply is essential to providing timely, lifesaving care.”
The timing of the blood drive was especially important. In July, NYBC declared an urgent second summer blood emergency after the regional blood supply fell to a critical one- to two-day supply, with Type O-positive and O-negative blood among the types in particularly short supply. Donations of all blood types were urgently needed.
“Every donation helps support the availability of safe, high-quality blood products for patients throughout our region,” said Bhishma Patel, chief technologist, Transfusion Medicine Services at University Hospital. “The generosity of our donors and the collaboration of our staff demonstrate our shared commitment to patient safety, quality and continuous improvement.”
As New Jersey’s first designated Level I Trauma Center and a major academic medical center, University Hospital treats patients who may require blood during emergencies, surgery, trauma care and other complex medical treatments. Maintaining a reliable blood supply is essential to ensuring those patients receive care when they need it most.
74 PINTS OF BLOOD
63 Whole Blood Donations
10 Double Red Blood Cell Donations
1 Plasma Donation
As a thank-you to those who donated, NYBC partnered with the New York Mets to provide all blood drive participants with vouchers for Mets tickets. The incentive added an extra benefit for donors while supporting an even more important goal: strengthening the regional blood supply and supporting patients who depend on transfusions during some of the most critical moments of their care.
While the need for blood continues year-round, UH employees and community members can make a difference by donating through the New York Blood Center and watching for information about University Hospital’s next blood drive this October.
For the printed page, the “74 Pints of Blood” statistics would make an excellent large sidebar or graphic element, while the Jason Brady quote could run as an oversized pull quote between columns.
