Message from Councilman Matt Adams | September 16, 2021
Last Sunday, it was my pleasure to stop by Congregation Beth Israel and express my appreciation to the synagogue’s Men’s Club for organizing its annual community blood drive, run by Vitalant.
Numerous donors appeared throughout the four-hour event to donate blood in a large, mobile trailer that was set up in the parking lot facing Martine Avenue. The site was ideal, prompting some walk-ins beyond those who made a reservation.
Donation is a simple four-step process: Donors register, share their medical history, donate blood and then enjoy refreshments, courtesy of the blood bank. The whole process takes less than an hour.
In talking with program organizers, I was struck by the desperate need for blood in our community. In fact, it is reaching crisis levels, as the demand for blood has surged because of the wave of elective surgeries that were postponed over the many months that hospital beds were reserved for COVID patients and common emergencies.
On top of that, organizations such as the Men’s Club were unable to coordinate blood drives, as the pandemic shut down the schools, businesses and faith-based organizations that hosted these vital events. Cancelled blood drives inadvertently reduced the supply in the blood bank, despite the fact that the need remained paramount.
This is not just a Scotch Plains problem, nor a New Jersey problem. Hospitals all over the country are worrying that they will be forced to delay surgeries, cancer treatments and other procedures that require blood, plasma or platelets. As this pandemic continues to linger, I am worried this shortage could last many more months.
As I continue to learn more about this historic blood shortage and how it could affect our residents, I am amazed to see how just one donor can have such a drastic effect. One pint of donated blood, for example, can help save three lives. In America, every day, there is a need for 43,000 pints.
Another way of expressing the importance: every two seconds in this country, someone needs donated blood. And yet another way to hammer home this message: Each year, more than 4.5 million lives are saved by blood transfusions.
According to RWJ/Barnabas, 60% of New Jerseyans are eligible to donate blood, yet only 3.6 percent donate on a routine basis.
Blood drives will continue in Scotch Plains throughout the fall and it is my hope that you will spread the word about the importance of donation.
New Jersey Blood Services has a permanent donor center at 2279 South Ave., providing blood to about 200 hospitals in the tri-state area. The center is open weekends from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday from 2-8 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted. But you are urged to make an appointment through nybc.org or call 1-800-933-2566.
Thank you.