Urgent Blood Drive Planned At Morristown Medical Center

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Atlantic Health System and the New York Blood Center will hold a two-day blood drive in Morristown as the region continues to face an unprecedented blood shortage.

The drive will take place July 27 from 1 to 7 p.m. and July 28 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. inside Kahn Auditoriums A and B at Morristown Medical Center, located at 100 Madison Avenue.

Blood supplies across the New Jersey and New York region recently fell to their lowest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic after severe storms disrupted donations over the Fourth of July weekend.

According to the New York Blood Center, the storms resulted in 3,000 fewer donations than anticipated, leaving the region with only a two-day supply of blood. Power outages, extreme heat and temporary donor-center closures all contributed to the shortage.

It marked the first time the organization declared two critical blood shortages during the same summer. The first followed a decline in donations around Memorial Day weekend.

Type O-negative blood, which can be given to patients of any blood type during emergencies, has been in especially short supply, with less than half a day’s supply available when the emergency was announced.

“Every canceled appointment and every donor who is unable to reach a donor center means fewer lifesaving blood donations are available for patients undergoing cancer treatment, trauma care, surgeries, organ transplants, and treatment for chronic illnesses,” Jeannie Mascolino, vice president of operations at the New York Blood Center, said.

Appointments for the Morristown drive are strongly recommended and can be scheduled at nybc.org/ahs. Donors must bring identification, and parking at Morristown Medical Center will be validated.

Anyone with questions can contact Genevieve Toscano at 732-672-5281 or GToscano@nybc.org.

Eligible donors can generally give blood every 56 days, while platelet donors can donate up to twice per month, according to the New York Blood Center. More information about the regional shortage is available in Patch’s previous report.