Morris County Workplace Blood Drive

Anyone who works in Morris County, and their employers, will have a chance this month to take some time during their work day for a special assignment – saving lives, by donating blood at the  Morris County Workplace Blood Drive, at the Hilton Parsippany on Friday, February 25, from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

The annual Blood Drive is a partnership between Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, and Morristown Memorial. Other sponsors of the event include the Morristown Partnership, the Hilton Parsippany, the County of Morris, and the Parsippany Chamber of Commerce. The blood donated at the drive by the working community of Morris County will benefit patients at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

“This initiative unites the small business community and team members around an important objective – an adequate blood supply,” said Paul Boudreau, President of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to help provide local county leadership for this effort.”

Each day, approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities throughout the country for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims.  Fulfilling this demand relies on frequent donations by many donors, yet, on average, nationally only about 5 percent of eligible donors give blood.

In New Jersey, the average is 3.6 percent, according to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. If New Jersey could increase the number of donors giving blood to the national average, there could be a self-sustaining blood supply and no longer a need to import blood from other states.

“By holding a blood drive in or near the workplace an employer can address the three reasons most people give for not donating blood: they are unaware of the need; donating is inconvenient; and no one ever asked them to give blood,” said Kevin Rigby, Vice President & Head of Public Affairs and Communications at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Chair of the Coalition. “Morris County’s work force is filled with caring individuals, and we think making it more convenient for them to donate will ultimately make a huge difference for patients.”

In 2009, New Jersey saw an increase in blood donations over earlier years, but New Jersey still had to purchase 40,000 pints of blood from other states at an average cost of $350 per unit. This year, as snowstorms deluged the northeast, the weather impacted the supply of blood and platelets at hospitals, including Morristown Memorial Hospital.

 “As Morris County’s work force knows first-hand, the harsh winter weather we have experienced has been disruptive to many aspects of our lives – work, travel, recreation – and blood supplies are no exception. Not only is it difficult for donors to get to donation centers, it is also difficult for blood to be transported for distribution,” said Robert Katz, MD, medical director of Blood Banks at Morristown Memorial and Overlook Hospitals. “That makes the support given at the Workplace Blood Drives all the more valuable, and shows that workers in Morris County truly care about the lives of others in their community.”

In March 2010, Novartis and Morristown Memorial joined with the Morris County Chamber of Commerce for the first-ever Morris County Workplace Blood Drive, which resulted in more than 100 units of blood being collected.  This drive built on the success of the 2009 Morristown Workplace Blood Drive, which was founded by Novartis, Morristown Partnership and Morristown Memorial, and has also become an annual event.  All blood collected at these drives stays local to aid this community. These blood drives also reflect the mission of increasing employer engagement in blood drives – the mission of the New Jersey Workplace Blood Donor Coalition, which Novartis chairs. 

Patients who need blood at Morristown Memorial, a state-designated Level II Trauma Center, range from trauma to cancer treatment to open heart surgery, and many more. Morristown Memorial and Overlook hospitals offer a Blood Donor Room for employees, community members, and even patients' families to donate blood and/or platelets. One out of every 10 hospital patients needs a blood transfusion.

Donors must be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and have not donated blood in at least 56 days. Certain medications and conditions can preclude someone from donating. Donors should bring picture or signature identification, and should not fast prior to donation. For more information, call 973-971-5621.

The Hilton Parsippany, is located at One Hilton Court, Parsippany, NJ 07054. For more information, call Atlantic Health at 1-800-247-9580 or email donateblood@atlantichealth.org to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins welcome.