Red Cross blood drive comes to Millburn High School Sept. 5

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at Millburn High School on Saturday, Sept. 5, as the organization works to rebuild a blood supply that hit a four-year low this summer.

The drive is part of a statewide September campaign across North and Central Jersey, according to Patch. It comes after the Red Cross in late July declared only its second-ever national blood supply crisis, with USA Today reporting that donations had dropped nearly 25% in June. At the worst point, the agency had less than a one-day national supply of Type O positive blood, the most commonly transfused type, which accounts for about 60% of Red Cross distributions.

Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said in a July 29 statement that inventories remain under significant strain and urged everyone eligible to schedule an appointment immediately.

The shortage hit close to home. RWJBarnabas Health, whose Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center serves the Livingston area, issued its own July appeal calling the shortage among the most serious blood supply challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic. New Jersey hospitals have seen reduced availability of blood products as summer vacations, school closures and fewer community drives combined to cut donations.

Red Cross spokesperson Matt Trotter said on July 29, when the agency declared the emergency: "You really never know if you'll need blood; if someone you know will need blood. One donation can help save multiple lives, so if you've got an hour you can spare, you can do a lot of good with it."

The Red Cross estimates that just three additional donors at each of its daily drives nationwide could stabilize the supply.

Donors who give between Sept. 1 and Sept. 20 will receive an exclusive Red Cross × Hello Kitty plush mascot clip and sticker pack while supplies last. Details on the promotion are available at RedCrossBlood.org/HelloKitty.

To book an appointment for the Sept. 5 drive at Millburn High School, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

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