Tomorrow: Cymbrowitz' Office Holds Dual Blood Drive And Unclaimed Funds Assistance

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz will be holding a daylong twofer event at his office tomorrow, August 11 between noon and 6:00 p.m.

The Sheepshead pol is sponsoring a blood drive, in conjunction with the New York Blood Center, outside his community office, 1800 Sheepshead Bay Road between Emmons Avenue and Shore Parkway, and a representative from Comptroller DiNapoli’s office will also be on hand to help individuals search for unclaimed funds.

The assemblyman’s office noted that “a blood donation is not required to search for funds.”

If you are not aware of the crucial need for blood in area hospitals, take heed of these alarming facts, shared by the New York Blood Center.

• 4.5 million Americans benefit from life-saving blood transfusions each year.
• 40,000 pints are transfused each day in the United States.
• New York Blood Center alone requires over 2,000 volunteer blood donations each day to meet the transfusion needs of patients in close to 200 New York and New Jersey hospitals.
• 1 out of every 3 people will require a life-saving transfusion sometime during their lifetime.
• Transfusion recipients include cancer patients, accident, burn and trauma victims, newborn babies, transplant patients, mothers delivering babies, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, etc.
• Much of today’s sophisticated medical care (transplants, heart surgeries, etc.) rely on blood transfusions.
• Car accident and trauma victims may need as many as 50 or more red cell transfusions.
• Severe burn victims may need as many as 20 platelet transfusions.
• Bone marrow transplants may require platelets from over 100 donors and red cells from over 20 people.
• Blood products are perishable: Donated red cells last only 42 days; Donated platelets last only 5 days; Plasma can be frozen for a year.
• The need for blood never takes a holiday.

Potential donor walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are appreciated. Most people between the ages of 16 and 76 may donate.

Please call Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ office at (718) 743-4078 to either make an appointment or for more information.