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NYU Responds
Give Blood

Emergency Blood Drives

For medical questions concerning blood donations call 1-800-688-0900

Did you know that only 2% of New Yorkers donate blood, compared with 5% nationwide? Over 2,200 pints of blood are needed EVERY DAY to meet the needs of patients in over 50 NYC hospitals. You have a gift that could save 5 lives with one donation. Please share that gift and DONATE BLOOD!

Find a blood donation location near you:

Extreme Need for Blood and Platelets

New York Blood Center needs our help. They face an unprecedented situation, and now have declared an emergency appeal: because of Hurricane Sandy, they project a total cumulative shortfall of up to 12,000 units of urgently needed blood. If you have not donated, we ask you to do so as soon as you can. The blood you give now will help NYBC to replenish the losses from the storms and prepare the blood supply for the always-intensive holiday season. We need your help to safeguard the health of our communities.

Tips for a successful donation

  • Maintain a healthy iron level in your diet
  • Hydrate – drink an extra 16 oz of liquid before and after your donation
  • Have a healthy meal before your donation – avoid foods high in fat just prior to donation
  • Remember to bring your ID!

See more tips

Facts about blood needs

  • Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
  • More than 44,000 blood donations are needed every day.
  • A total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. (2006).
  • The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
  • The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.
  • The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
  • Sickle cell disease affects more than 80,000 people in the U.S., 98 percent of whom are African American. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.
  • More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
  • A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

Read more.

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