RWJBarnabas Appeals to the Lakewood Community for support
Lakewood - The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing that is still required to slow the spread of infection in New Jersey has caused a severe drop in volunteer blood donations and as an unintended consequence created a critically low blood supply at the state’s hospitals.
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, on behalf of the RWJBarnabas Healthcare network is urging everyone to donate blood and platelets. All blood types are needed at this time.
RWJBarnabas Health typically conducts multiple blood drives in the late spring and summer months to combat annual blood shortages that occur during summer months.The current pandemic has significantly limited the number of drives that can be scheduled this year and so RWJBarnabas Health has partnered with Bikur Cholim of Lakewood to ask residents for their support.
“People have been doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by staying home and socially distancing. This has made a positive impact on flattening the curve of infections,” says Sally Wells, Business Development Liaison, RWJBarnabas Health. “However, throughout the pandemic, we still needed to perform emergency surgeries and transfusions for patients undergoing chemo therapies for cancer. Now that elective surgeries and transplants have resumed, the need for blood and blood products is greater than ever. We ask everyone that is able to help us by donating blood or platelets.”
A community blood and platelet drive will be held on Wednesday August 5th, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bikur Cholim, located at 93 Prospect Street. Please call 732-235-8100, ext. 221 or ext. 248 or go online to www.rwjuhdonorclub.org to schedule an appointment.
The Blood Center has rigorous safety protocols in place to protect all donors. These include temperature checks of staff and donors, required face coverings, social distancing in waiting areas and donation spaces, as well as strict sanitary protocols including disinfection of donor areas. Donors must also wear masks and face coverings.