C.W. Post Responds to Shortage with Blood Drive October 19

September 27, 2005 - Did you know that the New York metropolitan area has to import approximately 50,000 pints of blood each year from other parts of the country because local residents don’t donate enough blood to meet our own needs? In fact, Long Island (and the entire New York metropolitan area) is chronically short of blood because less than 2% of the local population donates each year. The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is hoping to reverse this trend.

The C.W. Post Campus, located at 720 Northern Boulevard in Brookville, will host a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 in the Pioneer Room of Hillwood Commons. The blood drive is open to students, faculty, staff and the public.

“The catastrophic event of Hurricane Katrina should serve as a reminder to us to always be prepared in the face of an emergency,” said Joseph Shenker, Provost of the C.W. Post Campus. “But we must remain especially diligent for the needs of people who face personal crises every day – such as cancer patients, accident victims and people needing surgery, who require a continuous, sufficient blood supply.” More local donors are needed to donate blood on a regular basis because it’s the blood already on the shelves that is immediately used to save lives – both in the hours following a crisis and each and every day,” Dr. Shenker added.

Donors must be between the ages of 17 and 75 (over 75 with a doctor’s note), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Donors will be required to show ID and need to know their Social Security number.

This year’s raffle prizes include 10 iPods, Subway sandwich coupons, T-shirts, and two $250 Commerce Bank accounts.

Faculty, staff and students can make an appointment to donate by contacting: Tara McCarthy in the Office of Student Life and Leadership Development at ext. 2800 or tara.mccarthy@liu.edu. Appointment is suggested, but walk-ins are welcome upon availability. For medical information on blood donation, call 1-800-688-0900.