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Community Corner

Central Jersey Blood Center Saves Lives One Drive At a Time

The Rumson PTO sponsored a blood drive at Forrestdale School with the CJBC on April 12.

Thanks to the Central Jersey Blood Center (CJBC) and the Rumson PTO, one more life can be saved for a person in need of blood.

"The current demand for blood is tremendous," said Lynn Dragon, team leader from the CJBC.

A team from the CJBC came to Tuesday night to host a blood drive. The drive was sponsored by the Rumson PTO and president Patricia Quadarella. According to Quadarella, the Rumson PTO has been sponsoring blood drives once a year for at least 10 years.

The CJBC makes it simple for schools to sponsor blood drives. They go to almost all high schools in Monmouth and Ocean County. The team members are friendly and informative and make blood donors feel comfortable.

On hosting the blood drive, Quadarella said the CBJC made it very easy. "All we had to do was hand out fliers," Quadarella said. "The CJBC supplied everything. They came to the school, set up all their equipment and even brought the snacks."

Corey Davis has been working for the CJBC for almost four years. "We usually have a minimum of one blood drive a week," Davis said. "This week we have four." According to Davis, the CJBC travels to many high schools throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties. They also host blood drives in Dickson City and work with many different PTAs.

Rumson resident Alan Schleeper was at Forrestdale on Tuesday donating blood. "I donate blood about 3-4 times a year," Schleeper said. "The nurses here today made me feel very comfortable." Shleeper has never been deferred from donating blood.

A total of 24 people came to Forrestdale to donate blood on Tuesday. Only two people were deferred. Dragon, team leader from the CJBC, says people can be deferred for many reasons. "The three main reasons I have seen for people getting deferred are travel, hemoglobin and medications."

Because of organizations like the CJBC, people around the world can receive the blood they need. According to the American Red Cross, one pint of blood can save up to three lives and every two seconds someone needs a blood transfusion.

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