The Town of Smithtown Personnel Department, in collaboration with the New York Blood Center, will host a Blood Drive at the Smithtown Landing Country Club, 495 Landing Ave., Smithtown on March 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“There has been a critical shortage of blood donations, here locally and throughout New York, as covid restrictions made it difficult to host drives in locations which were unavailable for a time. This is a simple, painless process that only takes a few minutes of your time and could save up to three lives with just one donation. I would ask everyone to think about your loved ones. Imagine not being able to get them help because of a shortage requiring a hospital to limit distribution. We have some of the most selfless and giving residents here in Smithtown. I believe we can come together here and now to help our neighbors, friends and family in need of this lifesaving gift,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim in a press release.
Anyone wishing to help make a difference can schedule an appointment at www.nybc.org, click on “Donate Blood”, “Where to Donate”, then “Sponsor Name Search” and type in “Town of Smithtown”. Appointments are preferred but not required. Please remember to eat and drink prior to your appointment. Refreshments and snacks will be provided to all donors at the event.
For every person who donates blood, the New York Blood Center will make a donation to Feeding New York State. Feeding New York State leads the work to end hunger by supporting the food banks of New York State, including local food banks like Long Island Cares and Island Harvest.
Donors Presenting:
- Must wear a mask or face covering
- Will have their temperature taken
- Must be 14 days symptom free if recovered from COVID-19
- May NOT donate if they have a positive diagnostic test or experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days
- May NOT donate if they are currently on self-quarantine requirements
Eligibility Criteria:
- Minimum Weight: 110 lbs
- No new tattoos for the past 3 months
- Ages 16 – 75 (Under 16 with Parent’s Permission, Over 75 with Doctor’s Permission)
- Donor Card or ID required
About New York Blood Center:
New York Blood Center is a non-profit independent blood center that provides lifesaving blood products and services to nearly 200 hospitals in New York, New Jersey, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
DID YOU KNOW:
Only 2% of the local eligible population donates blood each year, and if only 1% more of Americans donated, blood shortages would disappear.
1 in 3 people will need a blood product in their lifetime.
The donation process will take an average of 10 minutes.
For more information on this event and how to register, contact Dineen Szczepanski at [email protected], or at 631-360-7626.
“This is an invaluable life saving skill for everyone and anyone to learn. Don’t think to yourself, I’ll never need this skill… you simply just never know! Accidental overdoses on prescription drugs can easily happen to an elderly person living alone or to a family member suffering from dementia. Additionally, we’ve been fighting an opioid epidemic for years. The coronavirus pandemic undoubtedly made it more difficult to fight back and get people help. Human beings make mistakes, but they all deserve a second chance… Narcan training is a weapon against this battle… and everyone should arm themselves with this life saving skill.” – Supervisor Ed Wehrheim
