A sharp drop in blood donations is raising concerns as New Jersey enters the busy summer season.
New Jersey Blood Services, which supplies about 500,000 blood products each year to more than 150 hospitals, EMS agencies and health care partners, reports donations are down nearly 15% – roughly 4,500 fewer donations than needed to meet demand.
The decline comes at the start of what officials call “trauma season,” a period when accidents and emergencies typically increase and hospitals rely more heavily on blood supplies.
“This is one of the more challenging starts to summer we’ve seen in recent years,” Jeannie Mascolino, vice president of operations for NJBS, said in a news release. “We are already thousands of donations behind where we would typically like to be heading into Memorial Day weekend, when donations often decline further.”
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If the trend continues, officials warn, hospitals could face shortages during a critical period when trauma cases rise due to travel, outdoor activity and holiday events. Trauma patients can require dozens – sometimes hundreds – of transfusions in a short time.
Across New Jersey, Level 1 trauma centers treat about 10,000 patients each year, many during weekends and the summer months.
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To help boost supply, NJBS is offering a packable picnic blanket to anyone who donates blood between May 20 and May 27 at donor centers or blood drives. The promotion is part of its “Be the Reason Summer Feels Brighter” campaign focused on maintaining donations during a historically slow period.
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NJBS, part ofNew York Blood Center Enterprises, also notes that updated FDA guidelines have expanded donor eligibility, allowing more people to give blood. Most donors can give every 56 days, while platelet donors may donate twice a month.
Appointments and eligibility details are available atnybc.orgor by calling 1-800-933-2566.
Email:bwadlow@MyCentralJersey.com
This story was created by reporter Brad Wadlow, bwadlow@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process.Learn more.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com:Why NJ blood donations are dropping and what it means for hospitals
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