Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilwoman Michele Johnson, Councilman Joseph Muscarella and the Town Board today announced a partnership with the New York Blood Center to collect donations on Thursday, August 1st, to help hospitals meet the ongoing and pressing need for blood. The Blood Drive will take place from 9am to 3pm in Town Hall North (54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay) and from 9:30am to 3:30pm in Town Hall South (977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa). All donors will be entered into a raffle – conducted by the New York Blood Center – to win tickets to a New York Mets game.
“Blood donations are important because maintaining an adequate blood supply in our community helps secure blood transfusions for patients. Blood supplies easily dwindle, so blood drives like this are critical to help hospitals meet demand and continue their life-saving operations,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Please consider participating in this blood drive and help bolster our blood banks so that as many people as possible can be helped.”
To qualify as a blood donor, a person must between the ages of 17 and 75 years old (16 with parental permission and 76 or older with a doctor’s note), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days. Anyone who received a tattoo within the past 12 months is ineligible to donate. It is recommended that volunteers eat well (low fat) and drink fluids in the days before the Blood Drive.
“Donating blood is a quick, easy, and safe process, and the pint of blood you donate will never be missed from your body, as it is quickly reproduced within your body,” Councilman Muscarella added. “If you have family members or friends willing to donate, please ask them to support our effort this year, as there is no danger of contracting any diseases, and each pint of blood donated can be used to help three different people.” Refreshments will be provided for all who donate blood. For additional information regarding the Town’s Blood Drive, contact Nancy Haarstick at (516) 624-6304