Queens residents were recently given the opportunity to step up to the plate for their community.
The New York Mets and New York Blood Center (NYBC) held a successful blood drive on Thursday, July 23 at the Caesars Club at Citi Field.
A record 386 units of blood were collected, the largest sports-related blood drive by NYBC in the New York area in more than a decade.
“It was an amazing turnout and an overall great event,” remarked Joe Ferrara, an account manager for NYBC who helped run the drive. “People were lined up throughout the day, and everyone received Mets tickets for participating. To get this many units from one drive is incredible.”
Sixty-six donors gave blood using “ALYX,” an automated donation system that allows eligible donors to give two units of critically needed red blood cells in just one visit.
“The way ‘ALYX’ works is really cool,” continued Ferrara. “With a basic donation we simply take a pint of blood. However, ‘ALYX’ takes the blood, and filters it into three bags; one of critically needed red cells, one of platelets and one of plasma. We keep the red cells, and give the donor back the platelets and plasma along with saline solution to help replace the fluids lost. This process allows us to collect more at a time.”
The units collected at Citi Field can potentially save roughly 900 lives.
NYBC is one of the nation’s largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. It has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to patients in greater New York since 1964.
To give blood, or for more information on NYBC, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org.
