New York Blood Center (NYBC) and the New York Islanders will be hosting the first of two annual blood drives on Wednesday, August 7th from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the UBS Arena Acrisure Great Hall. All presenting blood donors will receive a voucher for two tickets to a select Islanders home game for the 2024-2025 season. The Islanders have been long-time supporters and partners of NYBC, hosting blood drives since 2000 and collecting more than 2,400 donations over the years.
This blood drive comes at a critical time as NYBC issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations just last month. This dangerous shortage is impacting local hospitals and part of a disturbing national trend, with type O shortages reported across the U.S. The current inventory of type O blood is the lowest it’s been since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The region continues to struggle with the challenges that accompany the summer months as seasonal travel, school breaks, and a rise in traumatic accidents can strain the blood supply and lead to shortages.
NYBC and the Islanders invite fans, employees and Long Islanders to donate blood at this year’s blood drive to ensure the region’s blood supply levels stay on track this summer.
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and up to 6 times a year. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, click here or call 800.688.0900.
WHO:
- New York Islanders Representatives
- New York Blood Center Representatives
- Blood Donors
- Volunteers
WHEN: Wednesday, August 7, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: UBS Arena, Acrisure Great Hall (Lobby), 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003
WHY: It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.
To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.
About New York Blood Center
Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe) celebrates 60 Years of Extraordinary Lifesaving Research, Innovation and Impact. NYBCe is one of the largest nonprofit, independent, community blood centers in the world. Along with regional divisions Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD), Community Blood Center of Kansas City (CBC), Connecticut Blood Center (CTBC), Memorial Blood Centers (MBC), Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB), and Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC), we collect approximately 4,000 units of blood products each day and serve communities approaching 50 million people in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT), mid-Atlantic area (PA, DE, MD), Kansas City metropolitan area, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Southern New England. NYBCe delivers lifesaving blood products
and services as well as clinical, medical, pharmaceutical, testing, and consultative services to over 600 hospitals and dozens of research organizations, academic institutions, and biomedical companies. Among other milestones, our Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute pioneered the Hepatitis B vaccine and patented a solvent detergent plasma process, innovating blood-purification technology world-wide. For more information, visit nybc.org.Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About the New York Islanders
The New York Islanders Hockey Club is the proud winner of four Stanley Cup Championships and record nineteen consecutive playoff series victories. The Islanders play in the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, and have eight players, one coach and one general manager inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Islanders Children’s Foundation has helped countless youngsters in need around the world since its inception. Donations are raised through the efforts of our players, management, and employees, along with our fans and partners. UBS Arena is the team’s state of the art home and features world class premium hospitality, great sightlines from every seat, and a loud and intimate bowl. Isles Lab, the official team store of the New York Islanders, offers fans traditional NHL merchandise, unique collaboration and exclusive products. Isles Lab is located inside UBS Arena or can be shopped online at IslesLab.com.