Release #461-00

 

Contact:	Sunny Mindel / Lynn Rasic (212) 788-2958	View the Mayor's Press Conference Download
	Sandy Mullin/Erich Giebelhaus (212) 788-5290 (Health)

MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE AND URGES
NEW YORKERS TO GIVE BLOOD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced today that New York City is currently facing a severe blood and platelet shortage. The Mayor joined City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone to call on all adult New Yorkers this holiday season to give blood and potentially save a life. Mayor Giuliani also announced that City workers are doing their part to pitch in by participating in a series of blood drives to be held at several city agencies over the course of the next several weeks.

Also joining the Mayor for the announcement were Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D., New York Blood Center President Robert Jones, M.D., and Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth Raske.

"Although the hustle and bustle of the holidays makes it difficult to find time, one of the greatest gifts you can give this holiday season is an hour of your time to donate blood," Mayor Giuliani said. "This year the shortage is projected to be particularly acute, with New York City blood supplies expected to be at critically low levels after the holiday season."

"Each week, New York City needs close to 13,000 units of blood to provide a wide array of medical services. Current projections indicate the Citywide blood reserves will plummet to less than 6,000 units the week of December 30th. Because this date is just weeks away, it is important that all eligible donors take the time to give blood,” the Mayor continued.

“During holidays and long weekends, critical shortages of blood occur,” Speaker Vallone said. “According to the New York Blood Center, less than two percent of eligible New Yorkers donate blood compared to five percent in most parts of the United States. Donating blood can be the best gift you could give to a cancer patient, whose platelets have been destroyed by the debilitating disease.”

Dr. Cohen said, "I join Mayor Giuliani and Speaker Vallone in urging New Yorkers to consider giving blood not just at the holiday season but throughout the year. With an aging population coupled with the development of more sophisticated medical and surgical procedures that require the support of blood treatments, there has been an increased demand for blood donations. I urge New Yorkers to help avoid a possible health emergency in the next several weeks and to consider giving blood regularly throughout the year."

Dr. Jones said “By the end of this month, the New York Blood Center, the major supplier of blood products to area hospitals, will have less than one day of Type O blood, the most in-demand blood type," said New York Blood Center President Jones. "I encourage all eligible donors to give blood and to help mitigate this crisis. To find out if you are eligible to give blood or to schedule a convenient donation appointment, call 1-800-933-BLOOD (2566)."

To meet the demands of blood transfusions for patients in nearly 200 metropolitan area hospitals, the New York Blood Center oversees the distribution of nearly 2,000 pints of blood each day. When supplies fall below this threshold, critical surgeries are delayed, which cause significant disruptions in the quality of medical service provided.

In response to the blood shortage, a number of New York City agencies have organized blood drives for City employees. These blood drives will take place at agency locations in all five boroughs during the months of December and January, the height of the seasonal blood shortage.

www.nyc.gov