The University broke the Northeast record for most blood donations collected in a single day, with 882 units of blood collected Tuesday in six hours across four campuses.
“That big bump helped out not only New Jersey but also [other hospitals in] the tri-state area that we serve,” said New Jersey Blood Services Executive Director Chuck Grossenbacher.
The previous record was set in October 2007 by Drexel University, said Manager of Community Relations Jan Zepka in an e-mail.
“We’re certainly very proud of our relationship with Rutgers,” Grossenbacher said. “We’re usually at Rutgers at least once a month.”
In addition to student participation, there were contributions from local New Brunswick businesses, said Manager of Donor Recruitment and Retention for NJBS Marie Forrestal.
“We usually have promotions of one kind or another,” Grossenbacher said. “Regardless of the promotion, it’s really the spirit of the student body [that makes a successful blood drive].”
The participation of the students is key to sustaining the blood supply across the country, not just in New Jersey, Forrestal said.
“Students can really turn around the national blood supply,” she said.
Forrestal said she commended the efforts of all the students, organizations and local businesses that contributed to the immense success of the drive.
“[The drive was] such a great concerted effort by all the recreation centers,” she said.
Donors who participated were rewarded with a “Pint for a Pint,” where Thomas Sweet ice cream shop supplied all participants with a pint of ice cream in a University-themed glass commemorating their donation, Forrestal said.
The first 25 donors were rewarded with Gund brand teddy bears, according to a NJBS press release.
Among the student organizations that helped orchestrate the event were the various greek councils, University Residence Life, Community Cares, University Blood Drive Committee, Rutgers Recreation Department, Recreation Advisory Council and Student Volunteer Council.
“Holding it at all four campuses at once probably contributed [to the drive’s success],” Grossenbacher said.
NJBS tries to keep their blood supply at a five-day level and, at the time of the drive, some types of blood were at a less than three-day supply, Zepka said.
NJBS and the organizers who participated in the drive hope to break their record next year, Forrestal said.
“If we can make it in everyone’s culture to donate, we won’t have blood shortages,” she said.
NJBS, who supplies blood to about 60 area hospitals, strives to encourage as many people as possible to donate.
While 60 percent of the population in the country is eligible to donate, only 2 percent make the contribution, Forrestal said.
The economy is partially responsible for the dip in blood supply levels, Zepka said. Many companies that have traditionally held blood drives for their employees have laid off much of the workforce that used to contribute to the blood supply.
“[This was] one of the best blood drives by any university nationwide,” Forrestal said.
U. breaks blood donation record in Northeast
Published: Sunday, February 22, 2009
Updated: Sunday, February 22, 2009
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