RWJBarnabas Health Calls for Blood Donations During Summer Months

Series of Blood Drives Being Hosted in July and August

West Orange, NJ, July 2, 2024-With the summer here, RWJBarnabas Health is hosting several blood drives throughout July and August across its healthcare facilities to help reduce shortages already experienced at many of our facilities.

Life-saving blood and platelet donations are given to patients in a wide range of circumstances, including cancer care, trauma events such as car accidents and home accidents, childbirth, and mass casualty events. Historically, blood and platelet inventories drop during the summer months when donors are on vacation or off from school and college.

"Fewer people think about donating blood during the summer, but accidents and medical emergencies don't take a vacation," said Sally Wells, Business Development and Community Liaison for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital's (RWJUH) Blood Donor Services. "Blood and platelet donations could be the difference between life and death for someone in need. This is why donations are needed throughout the year, but especially during the summer when hospitals across the state experience declining supply levels."

A full list of upcoming blood drives, starting with those occurring in July, include:

July

• July 2, 2024: Lakewood Community at Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus

Conference Rooms A, B, C, 600 River Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701

• July 10, 2024: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Rahway, Conference Room 1, 865 Stone Street, Rahway, NJ 07605
• July 11, 2024: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-New Brunswick, Auditorium, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
• July 16, 2024: Livingston Township Employees and Community, Municipal Building-Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039
• July 18, 2024: Trinitas Regional Medical Center, CORE Bldg. 2nd Floor Training Rooms, 1164 Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
• July 24, 2024: JCC Metro West, 2nd Floor. Tepper Room, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
• July 25, 2024: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset's Christmas in July, 1st Floor Donor Center, 110 Rehill Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876
• July 30, 2024: Clara Maass Medical Center, Learning Center, 1 Clara Maass Drive, Belleville, NJ 07109

August

• August 1, 2024: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Hamilton, Roma Café Vending Area, 1 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton, NJ 08690
• August 8, 2024: Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Islami Auditorium A & B, 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039
• August 13, 2024: Pine Belt Subaru, Community Showroom, 1021 NJ-88, Lakewood, NJ 08701
• August 14, 2024: Lakewood Community at Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus

Conference Rooms A, B, C, 600 River Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701

• August 27, 2024: The Ashley Lauren Foundation, Recreation Gym, 601 Main Street, Belmar, NJ 07719
• August 28, 2024: Monmouth Medical Center, Unterberg Learning Center, 300 2nd Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740
• August 29, 2024: Long Branch Employees and Community, Adam "Buckey" James Community Center, 231 Wilbur Ray Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740

Donors must be 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds (120 pounds if 16 years old), and present photo identification. Donors who are 16 and 17 years old require written parental consent. If the donor has a history of viral hepatitis at age 11 or older or is recovering from an infectious illness, they are ineligible to donate.

To make an appointment at a fixed RWJUH Donor Room or to find a blood drive location near you, please visit https://www.rwjuhdonorclub.org or call 732-235-8100 ext. 221.

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About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals - Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children's hospitals, Children's Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state's largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey's largest private employers - with more than 41,000 employees and 9,000 physicians- and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey's largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

Contact: Carrie Cristello
[email protected]