[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING 
                                 BLOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the work 
done by the New York Blood Center (NYBC) and its efforts to recruit 
volunteer blood donors to help assure a safe and ample blood supply in 
the New York Metropolitan area. As one of the nation's largest non-
profit, community based blood centers, The New York Blood Center has 
provided critical blood, transfusion products and services to patients 
in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut hospitals for over 40 years.
  Established in 1964 in order to better serve the transfusion needs of 
the New York City community, New York Blood Center was founded in order 
to carry out a critical mission to provide community members with the 
highest quality transfusion products and services, as well as leading-
edge research and technological and medical care innovation.
  The New York metropolitan area is currently experiencing a blood 
shortage that has reached an emergency level. The New York Blood Center 
reports a shortage of all types
of blood, but most pressingly a need for ``O'' type blood, the 
universal donor to patients of all blood types. Hospitals in New York 
need an average of 2,000 volunteer donors every day to meet critical 
patient needs. NYBC collects an average of 1500-1700 units/day to help 
meet these needs in combination with other providers.
  When the number of donations falls below the necessary number, NYBC 
must import the balance of necessary units from other areas of the 
United States. Without these vital donations, blood must be rationed to 
local area hospitals and elective surgeries postponed until blood 
supply levels improve. While the current shortage has not yet caused 
rationing to occur, it has become an area-wide crisis that endangers 
the lives and well-being of New Yorkers and demands the community's 
immediate attention.
  To date, NYBC has avoided this critical problem through continuous 
partnership with local and national government officials to perform 
constituent outreach. NYBC also collaborates with businesses and 
organizations that sponsor blood drives, as well as with individuals 
who donate on a consistent basis. In recent years, while the number of 
donations in the New York metropolitan area have remained steady, there 
has been a downward trend in the number of donations in Manhattan, 
contributing to the causes of the current shortage.

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