January is National Blood Donor Month, and if you’re looking for ways to be more charitable this year, donating blood can make a huge impact. RWJBarnabas Health is reminding all New Jersey residents that blood and platelet donations are always urgently needed to help combat shortages statewide this winter—cold weather, snow, and illness spikes make it less likely for blood banks to get donors. If you can do it, know that your donation (the blood draw only takes a few minutes) can make a difference. Read on to find out if you qualify for the RWJBarnabas Health drives, where you can easily donate. (featured photo credit: iStock/Svitlana Hulko)
Why it’s so urgent for blood right now
According to America’s Blood Centers, a blood transfusion occurs every two seconds in the United States. Life-saving blood is needed by patients in a broad range of procedures and situations, including cardiovascular patients during heart transplants, open heart surgery, and other cardiovascular surgeries. Other circumstances include cancer therapies, traumas such as motor vehicle accidents, industrial and home accidents, childbirth, organ transplants, and mass casualty events. Sixty percent of New Jersey residents are eligible to donate blood, yet only 3.6 percent donate routinely.
Here’s how you can help—RWJBarnabas Health is calling on blood donors of all types, especially Type O and platelet donors, to help bolster the blood supply. All blood and platelet donations at RWJBarnabas Health blood drives or donor rooms stay within the system and impact local blood supply availability within a few days of being donated. Donors must be 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds (120 pounds and parental consent is needed if 16 years old), and present photo identification. For more information on the new guidelines and IDA questionnaire, click here.
Help out other NJ Moms by donating blood to the Maternal Health Blood Drive
RWJBarnabas Health is hosting several blood drives across the state throughout January, including:
Maternal Health Blood Drive at Bradley Gardens Volunteer Fire Company (24 Old York Road, Bridgewater)
Monday, January 27, 2025: 11:30 AM-5:30 PM
More Blood Drives:
Jersey Shore Blue Claws: Executive Conference Center (2 Stadium Way, Lakewood)
Tuesday, January 7, 2025: 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Jersey City Medical Center: Conference Room 5 (355 Grand Street, Jersey City)
Thursday, January 16, 2025: 11 AM to 5:30 PM
Bradley Beach Recreation Center (39 1/2 Main Street, Bradley Beach)
Tuesday, January 21, 2025: 11:30 AM-5:30 PM
Reformed Church of Highland Park, Hospitality Room (19-21 South 2nd Avenue, Highland Park)
Saturday, January 25, 2025: 9:30 AM-3:30 PM
Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, Auditoriums A, B, and C (600 River Avenue, Lakewood)
Thursday, January 30, 2025: 1 PM-7 PM
Can’t make it to a Blood Drive? Here’s how to schedule a donation on your own time
To schedule an appointment at a fixed RWJBarnabas Health Donor Room, call 732-235-8100, ext. 221. Fixed donor locations are Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick (on the 4th floor of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Clinical Academic Building at 125 Paterson Street in New Brunswick) and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (at 110 Rehill Avenue in Somerville). Both are open Monday through Friday and select Saturdays. To schedule an appointment and for hours of operation, click here.
Making safety a priority
Rest assured—Donor Centers and all RWJBarnabas Health Blood Drives have safety protocols to protect all donors. These protocols include strict sanitary protocols, including disinfection of donor areas. Donors also receive free parking. Looking to help out locally? To organize a blood drive in your community, please contact Sally Wells at sally.wells@rwjbh.org or Michael Leviton at Michael.leviton@rwjbh.org.
This post is sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health to help all NJ Moms and their families stay healthy.
